HOLCOMB — The Ogle County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a suspect in the Wednesday morning attempted robbery of Holcomb State Bank’s Holcomb branch.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, at approximately 7:20 a.m. a suspect attempted to enter the bank by following an employee into the facility as she entered through a back door.

Ogle County Sheriff Greg Beitel said the employee heard the car approaching and went straight to the door where she quickly entered, locked the door and the suspect was unsuccessful at his attempt to enter.





Although the employee did not see the suspect, Beitel said eyewitnesses saw the suspect flee the scene in a dark colored vehicle, possibly a green Cadillac Seville, with tinted windows. The suspect that attempted to enter the bank was described as male, approximately 6 feet tall and around 230 pounds, wearing all black clothing with a face mask pulled over his head.

During the course of the investigation it was learned that a similar vehicle was seen in the area of the Byron Branch Bank located near the intersection of IL Route 251 and IL Route 72, Davis Junction, on Monday morning Jan. 25 at approximately 8:15 a.m. This is approximately 2 miles north of Holcomb Bank.

Previous incident

Holcomb State Bank President Dick Harms said the the bank’s New Milford branch recently had a similar incident, however, the robbery at that branch was successful. According to the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office, on Oct. 16 at 7:32 a.m., Winnebago deputies were called to the scene of Holcomb Bank, 7035 11th St., New Milford, for a robbery. An employee of the bank had been approached by two armed males when he arrived at the bank. He was forced inside at gunpoint and the suspects demanded money. During the time that the suspects were in the bank another employee also arrived. The suspects obtained money and were last seen fleeing the bank on foot. No one was injured during the robbery. The suspects were described as a white male with dark clothing wearing a ski mask, armed with a handgun and a black male wearing dark clothing and a ski mask, also armed with a handgun. The incident still is under investigation.

Holcomb State Bank President Dick Harms said the business has reevaluated morning operations since that time.

“Since the robbery at our New Milford branch, we have closely reviewed and enhanced our opening procedures and were fortunate to elude potential robbers today,” he said on Wednesday afternoon.

Harms asked that residents stay alert and keep their eyes open for suspicious activity in their community.

“Holcomb Bank, along with other local community banks asks that the community become more aware and alert of suspicious vehicles and individuals,” he said. “If residents see anything suspicious we ask them to advise the bank or call the local authorities.”

Anyone with information should contact the Ogle County Sheriff’s Office at 815-732-2136 of Ogle/Lee County Crime Stoppers at 815-732-7610 or 888-228-4488.