Suburban Bank Robbery Leads to Police Chase, Crash

BUFFALO GROVE-- Two armed robbers are hospitalized evening after they took over a bank in northwest suburban Buffalo Grove, tied up several employees and customers and led police on a chase that ended with their car smashing into a building, police said.

The chain of events began unfolding about 10:15 a.m., when two men entered the National City bank branch at 1177 Lake Cook Road in Buffalo Grove brandishing weapons. They bound five employees and two customers, and beat one of the people, who had to be hospitalized, according to Chicago FBI spokesman Ross Rice.

The robbers escaped the bank with an undisclosed amount of cash, but witnesses were able to provide police with a description of the getaway vehicle, which was spotted by Illinois State Police on the Eisenhower Expressway. The troopers gave chase and were joined by Broadview police, Rice said.

The chase eventually ended in a crash near West 18th Street and South Racine Avenue in the Pilsen neighborhood. Two alleged robbers were injured, according to Ross. A Chicago Police officer was also injured, police said.

The accident happened about 11:30 a.m. and three people were taken to John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County after the collision, according to Fire Media Affairs Chief Kevin MacGregor, who said one man was in critical condition and two others were in “stable” condition.

A police squad car was involved in the crash and one officer was injured, according to police News Affairs Officer Daniel O’Brien, who said the officer was hospitalized with bruises and other minor injuries. He was said to be alert and talking following the crash.

A witness at the scene said the suspect’s vehicle smashed into the front door of Irv’s Bike Shop at 1725 S. Racine Ave.

No charges have been filed Saturday evening.

Buffalo Grove police, Chicago Police and the FBI are investigating.

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