Aurora Man Arrested For New Lenox Attempted Bank Robbery: Police

NEW LENOX, IL — New Lenox police have identified the man they said is responsible for the Nov. 9 attempted robbery of a BMO Harris Bank, 110 W. Maple St., in New Lenox, according to a news release from the New Lenox Police Department.

An arrest warrant for Abdulhafedh Abdulhafedh, 21, of Aurora, was issued Friday, according to New Lenox Police Deputy Chief Micah Nuesse. Abdulhafedh is charged with financial institution robbery, a Class 1 felony, and possession of a stolen motor vehicle, a Class 2 felony, according to the news release. Bond was set at $250,000.

Abdulhafedh is currently in custody in Cook County where he is facing charges unrelated to the New Lenox attempted robbery, including possession of a stolen motor vehicle, a weapons offense, and fleeing and eluding, Nuesse said.

Police said that Abdulhafedh went into the BMO Harris Bank Nov. 9 and passed the teller a note demanding money from the vault to be placed in a garbage bag. But, Abdulhafedh fled shortly after a customer entered the bank and did not get any money, police said.

According to police, Abdulhafedh was seen on video cameras from the bank during the attempted robbery wearing a green pullover jacket with the word "Vikings" across the chest and an unknown logo on his hat, dark pants and a dark mask. He was also in a black soft cast (boot) on his left leg, police said.

Related: FBI Releases Info On Attempted Bank Robbery In New Lenox

Abdulhafedh was seen getting into a gray, two-door Audi that was waiting outside, police said. That vehicle was later identified as stolen from a dealership Nov. 2 in Libertyville, and the same vehicle was seen on security video at gas stations in Tinley Park and Cicero the day before the attempted bank robbery, police said.

Police said they were able to identify the driver of that vehicle as Abdulhafedh. Libertyville police recovered the vehicle Nov. 12, and Abdulhafedh's fingerprint was found inside the vehicle, police said. The FBI also analyzed the garbage bag and note from the attempted bank robbery, and identified fingerprints belonging to Abdulhafedh on both items, police said.

New Lenox police interviewed Abdulhafedh Wednesday at the Cook County jail, where he is being held. He identified himself as the person using the stolen Audi on the gas station security videos, and also said he had a cast on his leg at the time of the attempted bank robbery, police said.