Police Say Scarecrow Bandit Nabbed

The so-called “Scarecrow Bandit’’ was ordered held without bond Thursday following his Wednesday arrest -- after he allegedly robbed another bank, authorities announced Friday afternoon.

Joseph G. Dolgach, 51, whose last known address was 8 Westminster Ct. in Lake in the Hills, was arrested Wednesday afternoon without incident by South Elgin police. The arrest was made following the armed robbery of the Amcore Bank branch, located at 536 Randall Road in the northwest suburb Wednesday, according to federal authorities.

Dolgach was charged in a criminal complaint filed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Chicago with one count of armed bank robbery, a felony, according to a release from the FBI. Dolgach appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Maria Valdez in Chicago, Thursday morning, at which time he was formally charged. Dolgach was ordered held without bond, pending his next scheduled court appearance, which is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 1st, according to the release.

According to the complaint, Dolgach entered the South Elgin bank around 1:45 p.m. brandishing a wooden stick or club, according to the release. He then orally announced a robbery and forced several tellers to open cash drawers and place money from the drawers into a white bag that he had brought with him.

After receiving approximately $2000 in cash, Dolgach is alleged to have demanded and taken from a bank employee, the keys to her car, which he planned to use in making his escape. However, he was apparently unable to locate the vehicle and attempted to flee the area on foot, according to the release.

A South Elgin police release indicated Dolgach unsuccessfully attempted to take possession of a car from a passing motorist and then fled again on foot, running northbound from the scene.

An alert SEPD Officer, who heard a radio dispatch about the robbery, spotted an individual matching the description of the robber running from the bank in possession of both a wooden stick and a white bag, which contained the proceeds from the robbery.

The officer was able to take the individual, later identified as Dolgach into custody at the scene. No injuries were reported during the robbery, according to the release.

Subsequent investigation by the FBI and SEPD developed additional evidence, linking Dolgach to the robbery and leading to the filing of the criminal charges announced Friday.

Though only charged with the Aug. 26th robbery in South Elgin, Dolgach is also suspected in the July 18th robbery of the First Eagle Bank branch, located in Hanover Park, and the June 20th robbery of the Citibank branch, in Hoffman Estates, according to the release.

The individual responsible for these robberies had been given the moniker of the “Scarecrow Bandit”, because of the distinctive flannel shirt and floppy hat that he wore during the thefts.

Until his next court appearance, Dolgach will be housed at the Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC) in Chicago. If convicted of the charge filed against him, Dolgach faces a possible sentence of up 20 years incarceration.