HAMMOND | A Chicago man suspected of at least a half-dozen Illinois and Indiana bank robberies has been arrested and faces charges in connection with two of the thefts.
Edward Eason, 57, was charged on Tuesday in U.S. District Court with robbing the Charter One Bank in the 10200 block of South Ewing Avenue on Chicago's East Side on Nov. 29.
He was also charged on Tuesday in Lake County Superior Court with two state charges of robbing the Fifth Third Bank in the 1700 block of 165th Street in Hammond on Jan. 10.
Dubbed the "Kangol Bandit" by the FBI because of the distinctive designer hats worn by the well-dressed robber captured on surveillance video, Eason is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Thursday in Chicago.
Agents from the FBI Chicago office arrested Eason in Lansing on Friday after receiving calls from people who claimed to recognize him in photographs of the robberies presented by local news media, according to the federal affidavit.
"We got tips from the public who saw the photos," FBI spokesman Royden Rice said. "Their assistance was very important in this case."
In both the East Side and Hammond robberies, Eason is accused of handing a note to the bank teller demanding hundred-dollar bills and threatening to shoot if the teller did not hurry.
No weapon was displayed at the Fifth Third Bank, according to the state affidavit, but Eason allegedly lifted his suitcoat to show what appeared to be the handle of a pistol in the waistband of his trousers to the Charter One Bank teller, she told detectives.
Tellers at both banks identified Eason as the robber from photo line-ups, according to the federal and state affidavits.
Less than $5,000 was taken in both robberies, according to police reports filed by the banks.
The FBI is still investigating four other "Kangol Bandit" heists for possible involvement by Eason, Rice said, including a LaSalle Bank branch in the 7100 block of South Stony Island Avenue on Nov. 15, a TCF Bank in the 5600 block of North Kimball Avenue on Dec. 6, a Chicago Community Bank in the 11100 block of South Ewing Avenue on Jan. 25 in Chicago, and a Calumet City Chase Bank in the 1700 block of River Oaks Drive on Dec. 11.
Eason had previously served prison time for robbery, Hammond Police Chief Brian Miller said.
