Crime & Safety
Dropped Lottery Ticket Leads To Palatine Bank Robbery Arrest
Investigators found the ticket at the scene, connecting it to a 38-year-old Arlington Heights man.
PALATINE, IL — A dropped scratch-off lottery ticket led to the capture of an Arlington Heights man who took off with more than $8,000 in a Palatine bank robbery last week. Dexter L. Riley, 38, was arrested by Arlington Heights police Wednesday, and he's accused of holding up the Chase Bank on East Dundee Road in Palatine.
According to the FBI, Riley entered the bank branch, 1131 E. Dundee Road, shortly after 9:30 p.m. Sept. 28, possibly wearing a dark-colored wig under a hoodie. With his left hand in his pocket, he allegedly went up to the teller and passed a note that demanded she put "all the money" in a plastic bag he had.
The teller put $8,250 in cash in the bag while Riley remained silent. He then took the bag of money and fled the scene.
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RELATED: Palatine Bank Robbed By Man Possibly In Wig: Cops
While watching security camera video of the heist, an FBI agent noticed something dropping from Riley, according to the Daily Herald. Investigators discovered it was a lottery ticket and that it had been purchased at a Rolling Meadows gas station the night before the bank robbery, the report added.
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The FBI learned that four winning tickets had been sold with the dropped ticket and were redeemed Tuesday morning at a Deer Park gas station, the report stated. Security cameras from that gas station showed a man matching Riley's description turning in the tickets and driving away in a Chrysler Pacifica sporting temporary plates, the report added.
Riley was later picked up by Arlington Heights police who recognized the minivan, the report stated. Riley allegedly told authorities that he had used the bank robbery money to buy the Pacifica — purchasing it the day after the bank robbery for $3,5000 — a video game system and drugs, as well as pay rent, the report added.
The bank manager identified Riley as the man from the robbery. Riley also allegedly admitted he was the person on the bank's security camera video.
Security camera video of a man robbing a Chase Bank location in Palatine on Sept. 29. (Photo via FBI)
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