Crime & Safety

Knife-Wielding Serial Bank Robber Switched To Shoplifting Alcohol: FBI

Federal authorities say a Lake County man robbed seven area banks of nearly $36,000 at knifepoint before stealing several cases of liquor.

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An image captured from body-worn camera of a Sept. 9, 2022, traffic stop shows 39-year-old Haris Matchalovas, of Zion, who federal authorities believe used a chef's knife on an 10-month robbery spree across Chicago and its north suburbs.
An image captured from body-worn camera of a Sept. 9, 2022, traffic stop shows 39-year-old Haris Matchalovas, of Zion, who federal authorities believe used a chef's knife on an 10-month robbery spree across Chicago and its north suburbs. (Gurnee Police Department/via U.S. Attorney's Office)

CHICAGO — A Lake County man carried out seven bank robberies at knifepoint in Chicago and the north suburbs over the past year, according to the FBI.

Haris Matchalovas, 39, who lives with his parents in Zion, made off with more than $35,800 in cash from the robberies before he was identified with the help of a former romantic partner and arrested earlier this week, authorities said.

Matchalovas is believed to have used his parents' cars to carry out the robberies, removing the license plates but bringing along his own cell phone on each occasion, records show.

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Bank tellers told investigators they were terrified as the knife-wielding robber issued threats like, "Hurry up so no one gets hurt," and "do you want me to stab everyone here?," according to the FBI.

An image captured from security cameras at the Fifth Third Bank branch at 837 W. North Ave. in Chicago shows the knife-wielding robber who announced, "This is a f------ robbery," and demanded tellers "give me all your f------ money," after repeatedly asking, "Do you want me to stab everyone here?" according to the FBI. (U.S. Attorney's Office)

Federal prosecutors have so far only charged him with the Aug. 3 robbery of the Huntington Bank branch inside the Jewel-Osco at 2485 W. Howard St. in Evanston.

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But according to an FBI affidavit, there is evidence that he also carried out earlier robberies at banks in Skokie and Waukegan, as well as three locations in Chicago.

After escaping with less than $400 from the Evanston robbery, Matchalovas headed to the Costco in Mettawa and stole five cases of cognac that same afternoon, FBI agent Herbert Hogberg said in the affidavit.

Images from surveillances cameras at an Evanston Jewel-Osco showed the image of the man who robbed the bank on Aug. 3, according to federal authorities, who identified the man as 39-year-old Haris Matchalovas, of Zion. (U.S. Attorney's Office)

Not only was he still wearing the same outfit as the robber of the Evanston bank — the same "Champion" brand shirt he wore in his driver's license photo — but Matchalovas was also captured on store surveillance revealing a distinctive tattoo on his right arm, according to the affidavit, which included images from Costco cameras.

Federal authorities said this image from Costco security cameras shows Haris Matchalovas after he robbed a bank in Evanston on Aug. 3. (U.S. Attorney's Office)

Less than a week later, Matchalovas stole $366 worth of liquor from the Walmart at 8500 Golf Road in Niles and four more cases of alcohol from the Costco at 2900 Patriot Blvd. in Glenview, according to the 53-page FBI affidavit. He is not accused of brandishing a knife in the shoplifting incidents.

According to the FBI, an uninflated Winnie the Pooh-themed children's pool was visible in the back of the red Cadillac SUV used in the theft from the Mettawa Costco as well as in the back of the Cadillac Matchalovas was driving when he was pulled over by Gurnee police last month.

(U.S. Attorney's Office)

Body camera images from the traffic stop show Matchalovas' arm tattoo: "Chicago" written in cursive, the FBI agent alleged.

Matchalovas is set to appear in court Wednesday afternoon at a detention hearing. Prosecutors have asked a judge to order him detained while he awaits trial.

EARLIER: FBI Offers Reward For Knife-Wielding Serial Bank Robber

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