Bank employees thwart theft

A woman walked into Busey Bank last week intending to withdraw a substantial sum of money, a plan thwarted by an alert staff.

It was around 1:42 p.m. on Thursday, June 8 when the woman approached the teller’s window seeking to obtain $50,000 using a driver’s licensing belonging to an individual from Carlock, IL, a town located 70 minutes southwest of Diamond.

Believing something was not quite right with the requested transaction, bank staff notified the Grundy County Sheriff’s Office who sent deputies to the bank. They were assisted by officers from the Coal City Police Department.

Upon arrival at the bank, patrol officers observed a black Audi in the parking lot.

As police arrived, the driver who was waiting in the car for the woman to exit the bank fled heading east on Route 113 and merged onto Interstate 55 northbound. A Coal City officer following behind for a distance, but the pursuit was terminated.

Still at the bank, the woman identified at Lynn M. Sabatine, 36, of Chicago, was taken into custody.

Police said she admitted that she was attempting the money from the victim’s account by using a fraudulent driver’s license.

Sabatine was booked into the Grundy County Jail on felony charges of attempted identity theft and possession of a fraudulent driver’s license.

According to the sheriff’s officer, Sabatine and the driver of the vehicle are believed to be part of ring known as the Felony Lane Gang.

The organized crime gang is said to operate nationwide committing burglaries to motor vehicles and stealing identification that is later used to attempt to gain funds from victim’s bank accounts.

These crimes are often committed using vehicles with stole license plates, and by individuals who receive a small amount of compensation for their crimes.

“The sheriff’s office would like to commend the staff at Busey Bank for being alert and contacting the police. Due to their quick actions, the female involved was able to be taken into custody,” said a statement from the sheriff’s office.