Talk About Timing!

Off-duty Sgt. Angelo Russo, NYPD, went to his bank branch in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, to get some money out of his account. He was standing in the middle of the lobby, filling out his withdrawal slip, when the branch manager, a friend, came up and quietly pointed out to him the teller that was right at that moment being robbed on the other side of the office.

Knowing that the robber might be armed, Russo did not pull his weapon, but instead followed the robber out of the office, watched him get into a car with his accomplice, flagged down a police cruiser and gave chase. The robber, Anthony Aponick, and his accomplice were arrested, and all the funds were recovered - from that robbery, and from two other banks they had robbed earlier the same day!

Copyright © 2004 Bankers' Hotline. Originally appeared in Bankers' Hotline, Vol. 14, No. 10, 12/04