Botched Robbery Shuts Down Rush Hour Trains

Dye pack explodes in subway, police say

A high-tech security measure helped police catch a bank robber in the subway Wednesday, but not before it caused CTA train delays during rush hour.

Police said a man was in custody after a dye pack exploded on money he'd stolen from the North Community Bank at 800 N. State St. just before 5 p.m. The robber tried to escape by heading to the subway at Chicago Avenue and State Street before police caught him.

Nick Catalano, a Loyola student, said he came out of class, saw police and firetrucks everyway and then noticed red money on the stairs to the subway.

"We saw the red money dies and we figured it out," Catalano said. "I've never seen so many cops and firemen in one place at once."

The Chicago Fire Department called for an EMS Plan I after someone complained of an irritant after the dye pack exploded, Fire Media Affairs Spokesman Richard Rosado told the Chicago Tribune. That person was treated at the scene. Rosado said the original call was for a small fire in the subway.

Red Line service returned to normal around 5:15 p.m., police said.

An FBI spokesman told the Tribune the suspect will likely be charged Wednesday.

 

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