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Crime & Courts

Man charged with New Lenox bank robbery

Abdulhafedh Abdulhafedh

New Lenox police investigators apprehended an Aurora man accused of participating in the robbery of BMO Harris bank.

Abdulhafedh Abdulhafedh, 21, was identified as the suspect who unsuccessfully tried to steal cash from the bank at 110 W. Maple St., according to a statement from the New Lenox Police Department.

Abdulhafedh left behind a garbage bag and note with his fingerprints that connected him to the crime, police said.

About 9:30 a.m. on Nov. 9, officers responded to the robbery at the bank at 110 W. Maple St. and discovered a man entered the bank and passed the teller a note demanding money from the vault, police said.

The man wore a hood, mask, sunglasses and either a cast or walking boot on his leg, police said. The man then gave the teller a garbage bag to be filled with money, police said.

The man then “fled shortly after a customer entered the bank, without any of the bank’s money,” police said. Employees saw the man get in an Audi that was waiting outside.

New Lenox police investigators were able to identify the vehicle involved in the robbery as the same one stolen from a Libertyville dealership on Nov. 2, police said.

New Lenox police received assistance from other police departments in eventually identifying Abdulhafedh as the driver of the Audi connected to the robbery.

Libertyville police officers recovered the stolen Audi on Nov. 12 and Abdulhafedh’s fingerprint was found within the vehicle, police said. The FBI analyzed the garbage bag and note and identified Abdulhafedh’s fingerprints on both items.

On Wednesday, New Lenox police investigators interviewed Abdulhafedh, who identified himself as the driver of the stolen Audi and admitted he had a cast on his leg during the robbery, police said.

New Lenox police secured a warrant for Abdulhafedh’s arrest on Friday on charges of financial institution robbery and stolen motor vehicle possession. The warrant carries a $250,000 bond.

Abdulhafedh is in the Cook County jail on charges unrelated to the robbery.

Felix Sarver

Felix Sarver

Felix Sarver covers crime and courts for The Herald-News