Details Emerge in Armed Robbery of Glen Ellyn Bank of America Branch

An Indiana used-car dealer said he was in need of cash to pay bills when he brandished a Glock handgun and threatened a teller during an armed robbery earlier this month at a Glen Ellyn bank. 

Curtis Burrow, 72, of the 100 block of Corbin Court, Schererville, IN, was charged Oct. 8 in U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, with robbing the Bank of America, 600 Roosevelt Road, according to court documents. It's alleged he committed another armed robbery in Lockport days before the Glen Ellyn robbery.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, on behalf of the federal government, filed the criminal complaint, which alleges that Burrow:

“did, by force and violence, and by intimidation, take from the person and the presence of bank employees, approximately $3,692 in United States currency belonging to, and in the care, custody, control, management, or possession of Bank of America branch office located at 600 Roosevelt Road, Glen Ellyn, Illinois, the deposits of which were insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.”

Another person was arrested at the time of the robbery, but only Burrow was named in the criminal complaint, according to documents.

On Oct. 6, officers responded at 11 a.m. to a report of an armed robbery at the bank, police said after the incident. The man left the scene in a vehicle, which officers were able to tail to Lombard, Glen Ellyn Police Department Deputy Chief Bill Holmer said at the time of the arrest. Officers cornered two men at the intersection of St. Charles Road and Main Street. The men were taken into custody by Glen Ellyn police officers with help from Lombard Police Department.  

Details from the day related in court documents say Burrows waited in line at the bank until he approached a teller. He opened a “black zippered bag and removed a note written on plain white paper” and showed it to the teller.  The letter read something to the effect of: “There are four of us, no cops, we have radios.”

After handing the teller the note, authorities said Burrow pulled a black semi-automatic from the black bag and held it close to his body. He also appeared to have a GPS, according to court records.

The teller complied and handed the cash to Burrow. In addition, a GPS was included with the money. Burrow placed the money into the black bag and walked out of the bank.

Burrow was later arrested at a 7-Eleven in Lombard.

A court affidavit reveals that Burrow claimed he owned a used-car dealership and was not able to pay his bills. He told authorities he began robbing banks to pay his bills and said he also robbed the Standard Bank at 16545 W. 159th St. in Lockport on Oct. 2.  He said he was in Glen Ellyn to look at used cars and parked in a used-car lot behind the bank.

Burrow told officials the passenger in his vehicle, who was not named in the affidavit, was not aware that Burrow was going to rob the bank.

A search of Burrow’s black Honda Accord turned up the black fedora-type hat, sunglasses and jacket worn during the robbery. In addition, the note, the money, a Glock model 26 handgun and an unknown amount of 9mm rounds were found in the vehicle.

Let Patch save you time. Get more local stories like these delivered right to your inbox or smartphone with our free newsletter. Fast signup here. Like us on Facebook.