HIGHLAND | The hat gave it away.

A man who robbed a Highland bank Monday is believed to be "The Kangol Bandit," a suspected serial bank robber.

FBI agents in Chicago and Indianapolis have linked the man -- nicknamed for his choice of hats during robberies -- to five Chicago-area bank robberies and four bank robberies in Northwest Indiana, all since November, said Wendy Osborne, a special agent and spokeswoman for the FBI office in Indianapolis.

Authorities investigating Monday's robbery of Centier Bank, 9102 Indianapolis Blvd., noted similarities in the suspect's description and method of robbery to those of eight other recent robberies, she said.

The suspect wears a suit, a Kangol hat and tinted glasses. In the robberies, he passes a note or verbally demands cash and implies he has a weapon. In two robberies, he displayed a black pistol, according to the Chicago Division of the Violent Crimes Task Force.

Aside from Monday's Highland robbery, police have connected the suspect to the Jan. 30 robbery of National City Bank, 4715 Indianapolis Blvd., in East Chicago; the Jan. 10 robbery of Fifth Third Bank, 1716 165th St., in Hammond; and the Nov. 21 robbery of Chase Bank, 5930 Hohman Ave., in Hammond, Osborne said.

He is connected to five Chicago-area robberies, most recently the Jan. 25 robbery of the Chicago Community Bank branch at 11157 S. Ewing in Chicago.

He is suspected in the Dec. 11 robbery of Chase Bank, 1783 River Oaks Drive, in Calumet City; the Dec. 6 robbery of TCF Bank, 5600 N. Kimball Ave., in Chicago; the Dec. 3 robbery of Charter One, 10200 S. Ewing Ave., in Chicago; and the Nov. 16 robbery of LaSalle Bank, 7131 S. Stony Island Ave., in Chicago, according to authorities.

The FBI last month issued a statement asking for the public's help in identifying the Kangol Bandit. He is considered armed and dangerous.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Chicago FBI at (312) 421-6700.