FBI Names Commerce Bank Robber the 'I-55 Bandit'

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) believes a man that robbed the Arnold Commerce Bank, located at 956 Jeffco Blvd., on July 2 is a serial robber.

The FBI is seeking information on the man, whom they believe has robbed four banks in the St. Louis metro area since early May.

The man, who the FBI has dubbed the 'I-55 Bandit,' is wanted in connection with robberies at four bank branches near the Interstate 55 in both Illinois and Missouri.

According to Maj. Nick McBroom with the Arnold Police Department, the man robbed Commerce Bank by handing a note to the teller that implied he had a gun. The teller handed the man an undetermined amount of cash and he left the bank walking north on JeffCo Boulevard.

A similar process occurred in each of the other robberies, which is indicative of a specific style. The man passed a demand note and indicated he had a weapon, but never brandished one.

Law enforcement has not said how much was taken from each robbery.

The locations inlcude:

• Scott Credit Union branch at 1067 South State Route 157 in Edwardsville on May 6;
• U.S. Bank branch at 550 Bailey Road in Crystal City on May 15;
• First State Community Bank branch at 1602 North Kingshighway in Cape Girardeau on May 21;
• Commerce Bank branch at 956 Jeffco Boulevard in Arnold on July 2.

Police describe the man as white, about 18 to 25 years old, about 6 feet to 6 feet 3 inches tall and thin. He has short brown hair. He wore different clothes, hats and sunglasses in the different robberies.

When he robbed the Arnold bank, he was wearing a white baseball hat with a Chicago Bulls basketball team logo on front. The hat has a dark-colored bill. He also adorned sunglasses, a dark-colored sweatshirt, khaki-colored cargo type pants and dark-colored shoes.

Anyone with information on the suspect is asked to call the FBI in St. Louis at (314) 589-2500.