WAR STORIES

Only In California
Fellow called a cab to go to the bank. When the taxi got there, the driver was a bit suspicious due to the appearance of the man, so told him he had to have $20 in cash before he'd take him. The fellow paid up.

When they got to the bank, the passenger told the driver to go to the drive-up window, and when they arrived, the fellow tried to rob the teller from the back seat of the taxi! The teller claimed she couldn't understand him, so our would-be robber got out of the cab and walked up to the window. The teller hit the alarm and the taxi drove away.

The police came and arrested the inept robber, who was still standing in the drive-thru lane.

The taxi later returned to the bank, and turned over the change to them from the cab fare, leaving the bank with a slight profit on the robbery attempt!

Thanks to Al Miller, CRCM, Fremont Bank, CA

Never Too Old
To Learn New "Skills"
A group of individuals in Massachusetts were cashing counterfeit checks and checks drawn on closed accounts, against non-existent banks. During the two years the scheme was going on in ten different states along the East coast, they managed to obtain over $10,000.

When one of the ring leaders, Robert MacMillan, was arrested, he had over 400 fraudulent checks in the trunk of his car and in his apartment. He was sentenced to 3 years probation, and ordered to pay $975 in restitution. Mr. MacMillan is 80 years old.

Description Difficult
Police in Albuquerque, New Mexico chased a bank robber through a shopping center parking lot and into the street, exchanging fire with the suspect. Two of the pursuing officers' cars collided with each other, injuring both individuals. Other officers ran down the robber, and in the exchange of gunfire, the thief was killed.

The suspect, wearing a dress and a wig, had robbed two banks that day, and is now suspected of having robbed several others - dressed as a man. They are trying to match descriptions - but finding it difficult.

Copyright © 2001 Bankers' Hotline. Originally appeared in Bankers' Hotline, Vol. 11, No. 12, 12/01