7. . They impersonated police officers, telling the Sheriff they had come to extradite Dillinger to Indiana. He was famous for his likable personality and charm. David lives and works in New York City. Jesse was murdered there by Bob Ford in 1882 in St. Joseph. " Will Rogers (1879-1935) " Rev. The young men produced shotguns and ordered the chief cashier, a man named Birge, and his aides to hand over all available cash. FBI. He married Beryl Hovious, in 1924, but the marriage ended in divorce. In March the crime spree began again, and in that month alone three additional Indiana banks were robbed by Pierpont and his associates, in New Harmony, Kokomo, and Laketon. In February 1933, bank robberies had become so common in some parts of Texas that private banker R. P. Henry, who with his sons ran a bank in Lancaster, Texas, took to hiding cash in file cabinets, rather than keeping it in the vault safe, in expectation of a visit from criminals. Once the robbers reached an area near Lytle Creek they again engaged the pursuers. "They just want to give you what you want and for you to get the hell out of their bank.". The Rich Hill Tribune, August 19, 1909. In August he robbed another, in Bluffton, Ohio. Over the next few years he participated in several bank robberies, and it was in this period that he acquired his nickname. The raiders protested that the action had been a legitimate act of war and the Canadian authorities released them but returned the money to Saint Albans. In case you havent heard, theres a movie (1967 Arthur Penn film) that details the adventures of Bonnie and Clyde. Bettmann Archive/Getty Images. He was also an associate of John Dillinger, Alvin Karpis and the Barker gang. 8 Candice Rose Martinez. He was never caught and the loot from the heist was never found. In 1945 Sutton, along with 11 other prisoners, escaped from Eastern State in a prisoner-dug tunnel that went almost 100 feet . It's hard to regret something that has turned into something so good.". Start your Independent Premium subscription today. On August 23rd, 1934, Van Meter was ambushed by four police officers and brutally gunned down. They were the first bank robbers to be caught through the use of security cameras, though they were far from the last, as local newscasts have broadcast the video images of thieves on a routine basis ever since. Most Famous Thieves in History: 1. Bank robbery is a federal crime in the United States, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation defines the act of robbery as taking or attempting to take property through the use of, or the implied use of force. On the morning of June 9th, 1986, employees at Hollywood's First Interstate Bank showed up for work, preparing for the long week ahead. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Barrow was armed with a sawed-off shotgun. In yet another gun battle with police, a second robber was killed. Wikimedia. In early October 1864, former soldiers of the Confederacy who had fled to Canada began to gather in the small town of Saint Albans, Vermont. Whilst incarcerated, he began to associate with prominent bank robbers such as John Dillinger, Harry Pierpoint and Homer Van Meter. The year was 2005 and at only 19 years of age, the "Cell Phone Bandit," Candice Rose Martinez, was famous for her bank robbery execution. The skies darkened when Cassidy got close, thats how badass he was during the time of the Wild Wild West. Via: The Richest. One of the most famous bank robbers in American History, "Slick Willie" spent 11 years at Eastern State Penitentiary. French "Vacuum Gang" Since 2006, in France, an unknown gang of thieves have been emptying supermarket safes, using nothing more than a drill and a modified vacuum cleaner. It was hit during the night of June 1 to 2, 1899, and the story as it's often told is the heist was pulled off by Butch Cassidy and his gang. However, they would discover that the bank's vault had been looted. What was also known to most of the towns residents was that Green was heavily in debt, and the postmaster position, which was a political patronage job, provided an income which was insufficient for Green to pay his debts. Homer Van Meter was a young member of John Dillingers gang, with a reputation for being particularly bloodthirsty. Journalist Smith (Now Go to Hell) delivers a rollicking portrait of his cousin Daniel David Courson, the scion of a prominent evangelical Christian family who is also a notorious bank robber.According to Smith, the Coursons are "a gilded evangelical Christian Camelot," with members serving as megachurch pastors and missionaries in California and Oregon and . Sutton was once asked by a reporter why he robbed banks. Amazingly, they were never caught. Jesse Woodson James was an American outlaw, bank and train robber, guerrilla, and leader of the James-Younger Gang. It was later determined that Hamilton left over $300 in quarters and half-dollars in the cash drawers. The Brink's-MAT robbery occurred on November 26th, 1983, when six robbers broke into the Brink's-MAT warehouse at Heathrow Airport, London. The murderers and thieves, Jay Wesley Neill, who did the killings, and Robert Grady Johnson, were arrested on December 17 in a San Francisco hotel, traced there by the trail of marked bills which had paid for their transit. Geronimo bank robbery in Geronimo, Oklahoma, 1984, resulted in the deaths of three bank employees and one customer. 5. Because I enjoyed it. Someone should have. Under the circumstances, I was as nice as I could possibly be to the bank employees because I did feel a little sympathy for them. Volney Davis was the boyfriend of Edna rabbits Murray. By 1909 automobiles were being used to race across the country, as did this Model T, and to rob banks. Unbeknownst to the three was that they were being monitored by security cameras, the film from which was broadcast that night on national television. Bells and sirens were replaced in many cases by silent alarms, which sent a signal to law enforcement, allowing them to confront the robbers as they exited the buildings, after several instances when robbers reacted to the loud alarms by shielding themselves with employees and customers as hostages. He spent his time planning heists with his new found friends, that they would commit shortly after being released. Officially the FBI considered the men dead, drowned in the cold waters off Alcatraz Island, but numerous sightings of the brothers were reported over many years in Georgia, Alabama, and South Carolina. He was executed at the Ohio State Penitentiary in October 1934, after a failed escape attempt left him severely wounded. He has also escaped from prison multiple times. Historians have labelled the 1930s as the Public Enemy era; a time when a small minority of criminals stood out as being particularly notorious and were hunted determinedly by the police and FBI. They would commonly participate in gun battles with police, in which innocent bystanders were often killed. Before they left, the Termites started a fire that set off the sprinkler system and flooded the building. Herman Baron Lamm was a German American bank robber who is widely considered the father of modern bank robbery. "Only the Internet. The first time he was serving a 30 year sentence for robbery, he used a smuggled gun to hold a prison guard hostage, before using a ladder to scale the prison wall. The Lord never seeks re- election. Released on parole in May, 1933, he robbed his first bank the following month, in New Carlisle, Ohio. According to reports, 18 perpetrators are still at large. The gang robbed the First Nation Bank, in St. Marys Ohio, escaping with $14,000. Eventually he would do some time (all bank robbers eventually do some time), but that didnt keep Williams from his day job. In 1998, robbers struck the Bank of America at 1 World Trade Center in New York City, a feat believed to be impossible after the increase in security at the complex following the bombing in 1993. Cassidy didnt need much, just his crew and a reputation that bled intimidation. Moments later, cops were racing through San Isidro, a leafy, affluent suburb north . By 1932 Nelson had been caught, convicted, and sentenced to prison, though he escaped during a prison transfer in 1932. Kit R. Roane, The New York Times. But it was pretty low risk that way, so that was cool with me. Exactly my point, you are 86, why not? He committed his first major robbery in the 1920s, burglarizing a hospital in Tulsa. He reunited with girlfriend, and partner in crime, Edna Murray before joining Alvin Karpis and the Barker gang, who were at the peak of their criminal success. Lee Murray, who is thought to be the mastermind behind this robbery was caught in 2010 in Morocco. I look for video cameras, security guard positioning and speculate where the vault is. Hamilton was at the top of the public enemy list, whilst Dillinger and associate Harry Pierpoint were imprisoned. Jay, Clarke, Universal Press Syndicate, Chicago Tribune. After participating in numerous small time robberies, he was eventually jailed for 5 years. Library of Congress. To me, its just natural, given that a. The robbers thought they were going to steal 3 million in cash. Green was the local postmaster and was of course well known to nearly all of the towns citizens, including Frank. The surveillance footage was issued worldwide via news channels, giving Martinez instant bank robber street cred as well as notoriety she probably didnt want. On the morning of February 27, Henry and his sons were at work in the bank when two men Clyde Barrow and Red Hamilton entered the building. 1. These ruthless thieves would burst in and ransack the bank, usually forcing a manager to open the vault. The men beat a guard unconscious but were soon apprehended. During their spree, they killed around 13 lawmen, although Dillinger was never proven to have killed anyone. He has been a guest speaker on numerous national radio and television stations and is a five time published author. Parker first met Clyde Barrow at a friends house. He was paroled in 1932, and began to commit small time robberies with Parker. With the robbers broadcasting their crime live over the airwaves, it's a mystery why the police never caught the Baker Street gang red-handed. One of the thieves, the one who had worn a ski mask, made it as far as Albuquerque, New Mexico before he was arrested two days following the robbery. June 28, 2009, Family plot: Pretty Boy Floyd relative recalls his infamous uncle. Online. I wouldn't steal from an individual person because I'm not comfortable with that. In 1997, a Dunbar Armored Co. employee was fired for tampering with the company's vehicles. After a bank robbery it wasnt uncommon to find Pretty Boy handing out bags of cash to people and ripping up mortgage papers also stolen from the bank. Arthur was a modern day Robin Hood, providing a service for people in need by stealing. He took part in the Dillinger gangs last bank raid, in which four innocent bystanders were murdered. J.L. Though he's probably one of Texas's most famous outlaws, Sam Bass is widely regarded to have been a rather inept criminal. In January, 1934, the gang robbed a bank in Chicago escaping with $20,376. In May 1936, the FBI located Karpis in New Orleans, and surrounded his car. Mikhaylich was known as the Holiday Bandit due his frequent robberies in late December. The gang soon became one of the most formidable in the country, brutally murdering anyone who stood in their way as they robbed banks, even innocent bystanders. Bank robbery statistics from 2020 report there were zero bank robberies for 12 months in South Africa. Modern day pop culture has kept the tradition alive with movies such as Point Break, HEAT and Reservoir Dogs. Pity. Needless to say, she got fired. Often several different gangs occupied it simultaneously, though they did not coordinate their various nefarious activities. In December a robbery attempt was foiled when a bank worker pushed an alarm button, forcing the would-be robbers to flee empty-handed, but a week later they were more successful at a bank in Upland, Indiana. The failed robbery and the resulting pursuit brought all of the Younger gang to heel, except the James brothers, who separated from the rest and fled to Missouri. He received a life sentence but escaped during a prison transfer. If you ever got robbed by John Dillinger you knew it because he would have told you so. Floyd robbed more than thirty banks and killed at least ten men during his criminal career. J.D. Most of the robbers were caught but the gold remains at large. Published Tue, Jul 31 2012 12:33 PM EDT Updated Fri, Sep 13 . In 2005-2006, Clay Tumey "studied and perfected the art of bank robbery", never getting caught but still going to prison about five months after his last robbery because he turned himself in . Spaggiari is one of the most famous bank robbers in history. 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Warsaw Daily Times. During his first brief stint in prison, the director of research wrote the following: This fellow is a criminal of the most dangerous type. They killed at least nine people during their spree, including civilians. One difference of course is that he used a machine gun versus a bow and arrow. Young had contacts with Confederate agents in Canada, who authorized the raid on St. Albans, which was actually the simultaneous robbery of the three banks in the town. Central Bank of Iraq by urrizato - Wikimedia. Pretty Boy Floyd believed in having the right tool for the job, which is why he always brought his machine gun to a bank job. Knightsbridge Security Deposit Robbery: The "Italian" Work. The Wild Bunch favored robbing trains, hoping to avoid shootouts in the aftermath of a robbery, and it has been falsely reported that during their career the gang never killed anyone in the course of one of their crimes. Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in, Please refresh your browser to be logged in, Successful bank robber who never got caught explains his modus, Extra 20% off selected fashion and sportswear at Very, Up to 20% off & extra perks with Booking.com Genius Membership, $6 off a $50+ order with this AliExpress discount code, 10% off selected orders over 100 - eBay discount code, Compare broadband packages side by side to find the best deal for you, Compare cheap broadband deals from providers with fastest speed in your area, All you need to know about fibre broadband, Best Apple iPhone Deals in the UK March 2023, Compare iPhone contract deals and get the best offer this March, Compare the best mobile phone deals from the top networks and brands. Hamilton went on to commit a spree of chaotic, yet lucrative, bank robberies with the Dillinger gang. Famous American Bank Robbers. He would often flirt with female bank tellers whom he was robbing, and would also sometimes leap over the counter, a stunt he imitated from the movies. After staying unidentified for more than 50 years, an infamous bank robber from the USA has finally been identified. After numerous convictions were attained using his information he entered the Witness Protection Program. It was the largest amount ever stolen from a bank in U.S. history. Two of them, John and Clarence, were transferred within the federal prison system after attempting to escape from Atlanta, first to Leavenworth, where they also attempted to escape, and finally to the allegedly escape-proof prison at Alcatraz. I was more alive when I was inside a bank, robbing it, than at any other time in my life. Here are 15 of the greatest bank robbers of all time, some with a little fame, others not as much and some the basis for major motion pictures. They fled to the north. It was not their first bank heist, but it was the first in which they used the threat of force. They were not in uniform and were not connected to any existing command of the Confederate Army, though they were under the ostensible command of Bennett Young, a former member of Morgans Raiders who had surrendered with Morgan but escaped to Canada. Hamilton, along with Dillinger, were public enemy number one (or one and two I guess) as their gang robbed several banks around the Chicago area. Tulsa World. ", On how he didn't carry a gun or threaten people. He was a master of disguise who often impersonated a postal telegraph messenger, police . At the time of his death, he was 27 years old. In 1997, Allen Pace was fired from Dunbar Armored, Inc. - an armored car courier service often used by banks - for tampering with a company vehicle. The South Malabar Gramin Bank's Chelembra branch robbery was inspired by the Bollywood movie Dhoom. His bank robbery style became known as the Lamm Technique, and was widely imitated by other famous bank robbers, such as John Dillinger. Train and stagecoach robberies were more common since they could be carried out in remote locations, without having to contend with the inconvenience of local law enforcement. Increased security in the aftermath of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing did not prevent Ralph Guarino and colleagues from robbing Bank of America there. Frank Eugene Converse, whose family later founded the Converse Shoe Company, was a seventeen-year-old clerk at the First Malden Bank in Malden, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, in December of 1863. Horse thievery. No deliberation. Baghdad holds the infamous record for the . Bank of Bangladesh Cyber Robbery ($81M) North Korean hackers attempted to steal $1B from the . Most bank robbers, at least the popular ones, had characteristics that set them apart. Eventually, most of the Tape bandits were rounded up, including Nelson. These were shown in the newspapers to give the impression the duo were enjoying a lavish lifestyle, when in fact they lived under immense stress and were constantly on the run. In April 1925, Pierpont was arrested in Detroit and was soon returned to Indiana to face trial. An estimated $5. The gang even participated in kidnappings, however this proved to be their downfall. Wikimedia. Floyd grew up in Oklahoma, and was first arrested at age 18, after stealing $3.50 from a post office. After this he had difficulty holding down a job and began to plan a robbery with a friend. While it's too early to say whether the Berlin coin robbery will go down in history like the following 10 unsolved heists, it definitely fits the bill as an interesting crime caper. "She also pocketed a $100 bill for herself. In addition to violence, Baby Face Nelson also robbed banks, completing his first job by the age of 21 years old. Also, Starr starred in a silent movie based on his criminal activity titled A Debtor to the Law. 2003, The Great Northfield Raid Revisited. Ruth Brown, New York Post. He also put his men through rehearsals using full scale mock ups of the bank interior, and didnt commit the actual robbery unless he felt sure his gang knew exactly what they were doing. Karpis immediately joined them after he was paroled, and together they formed the Karpis-Barker gang. The driver then sped off, and since the make and model of the vehicle were not reported in the Tribune, it is impossible to determine what speeds were attained, but they were pursued by citizens and police also in automobiles. "I never felt guilty because I didn't attack or assault anyone. It was one of the more successful bank robberies for Bonnie and Clyde, who preferred to rob grocery stores, gas stations, and other less lucrative targets. The robbers shot up more than two dozen patrol cars and damaged a police helicopter. 1. Dillinger buried his friend at the home of Volney Davis and Edna Murray. Via cbsnews.com. Arguably the third largest heist in history, a robbery masterminded by . His reply was: Because thats where the money is. On the way, Bowman stopped in Utah, Colorado, Nebraska, Iowa, and Missouri. Police caught him 15 minutes later with the knife and 410 in cash stolen from a Tesco in King's Lynn, Norfolk. As a punishment, Van Meter spent two months in solitary confinement where he was severely beaten by guards. I have tried to rank in order of reputation and skill. At 8.30 in the morning of January 14, 1998, the Brinks truck arrived and the guards were transferring the cash when they were overpowered by the gang assembled by Guarino. Shootouts. John Dillinger (June 22, 1903-July 22, 1934) While the Great Depression that ravaged the 1930s created a perfect storm that propagated the country with scores of robbers looking to make an easy . He was arrested after being recognized during the robbery and sentenced to 10 to 20 years imprisonment, which was a very harsh sentence, indeed, for a first time offender. She just shrugged -- palms up like a little kid -- and said, "That's all I got." As a young man he enlisted in the US Navy, but was dishonorably discharged after he deserted. It took about fifteen minutes for the thieves to leave the World Trade Center, taking with them $1.6 million in cash. Members of the Palestinian Liberation Organization decided to launch an attack on the British Bank of the Middle East. The British Bank of the Middle East robbery. The remaining three were taken into custody. He remained on the run for three years before crashing his car in thick fog. On September 26, 1933, a total of 10 men, including . There are many perks to the gangster lifestyle; long life expectancy isnt one of them. The depredations of the roving criminal gangs of the depression years led to bank robbery becoming a federal crime in 1934, if the bank was a National bank or a member bank of the Federal Reserve System. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, in 2019, out of 267,988 robberies, 1.4% were linked to banks. The most notorious outlaws of the Wild West have long been . After the robbery, they went their separate ways and headed back to their homes. Two bank robbers and one deputy died in the gun battle, nine officers were wounded. Theodore J. Conrad pulled off one of the biggest bank robberies in Cleveland's history. ; Arrest the Culprit Green. The New York Times. The duo stole firearms and bullet proof vests. He died at the age of 52 of throat cancer, and his body was found dumped outside his mother . bank. Previously they had broken into banks after hours, hoping to avoid any injury to themselves or others. Valerio Viccei was the mastermind behind the heist that took place on July 12, 1987 and resulted in a robbery involving $66 million, worth about $154.7 million as of today. RCDSA. He did a Reddit Ask Me Anything yesterday, and it yielded some fascinating stuff. 2. Train robberies. He was later transferred to the State Prison, where he worked out an escape plan with John Dillinger. When he was 19, he participated in a botched burglary and was imprisoned for 10 years. The Birds were then ordered into the vault and the two men left. During the sixties, Williams was linked to over 60 robberies across the East Coast and Midwest. They were the ultimate on the run couple living on the farthest point of the ledge. Bass's one and only big haul was in September of . Many of the crimes which were attributed to Jesse James were done so after his death, and sometimes by other criminals in the hope of throwing off pursuit. John D. Kazar, Vermont History. Townspeople raised the alarm and armed men were awaiting the robbers as they exited the bank. No one pulled off more armed robberies in New York since Mikhaylich started his holiday spree in 2009. 8. The innovative group of bandits found a weakness in French supermarket Monopri. They were able to do so thanks to the driver, who was not an accomplice but was provided along with the vehicle, which had been rented by the two bank robbers. Volney Davis. He asked for credentials, so they shot him and Dillinger escaped with them. August 3, 2012, 3 Gunmen Rob Guards of $1.6 Million at World Trade Center Bank. On January 17, 1950, 11 men steal more than $2 million ($29 million today) from the . Sutton was an accomplished bank robber, although he never carried a loaded gun and never killed anybody throughout his criminal career. 2002, Riding with Bonnie and Clyde. Nelson was finally cornered and killed by FBI agents in November 1934, in a gun battle in which two FBI agents were also killed. In 1972, the name of then US President Richard Nixon was . It was later claimed that Butch Cassidy had been one of the robbers. Its funny how a lot of bank robbers never wear disguises anymore. ", "In their top drawer, [tellers usually had] less than $10k. made Dillinger a priority and brought him down one night in Chicago by shooting him several times in front of a mob of people, as if Dillinger planned it himself. You can reach David on Twitter @david_s_grant and his website www.pulpscribbler.com. He robbed a bank in Ohio, but was captured soon after. Ted P. Yeatman. During the heist, a police officer was gunned down and Dillinger was officially charged with the murder, even though many witnesses named Hamilton as the shooter. On September 26, 1933, a total of 10 men, including Hamilton, escaped using smuggled guns from the recently paroled John Dillinger. Barrow was imprisoned in 1927, for robbery of a gas station and it was here that he committed his first killing. . The following year he robbed a bank in Grand Haven, Michigan. Eric A. Aguilera and his accomplish Luda Ramos robbed The Soboba Casino in Las Vegas in 2005. J. Edgar Hoover exploited the rash of bank robberies during the Great Depression to increase the authority of the FBI and his own personal influence. Most bank robbers act solo or with groups of accomplices, but Bonnie and Clyde were the rare duo that went on a crime spree that included bank robberies as well as gas stations and retail outlets. Taking place in Tokyo, it was the greatest bank job in the history of Japan. Security Pacific Bank, Norco, California, 1980, deadly shootout between local law enforcement and five bank robbers. He managed to shoot his way to an escape, although his pregnant girlfriend was shot in the thigh. 1. Baby Face Nelson was a prominent member of John Dillingers gang who, along with Homer Van Meter, had a particular reputation for violence. Over the years souvenir hunters chipped away pieces from his headstone, leading it to be replaced several times, often coinciding with the release of yet another film about his career. John Dillinger spent nine years in prison for assault and battery committed while he was robbing a grocery store, and spent his time there being tutored in the art of bank robbery. Wikimedia. The Banco Central burglary Stolen: $71.6 million. The robbery was masterminded by Ralph Guarino, a career felon who associated with several members of organized crime, though he was not a member of a crew. John and Clarence Anglin, along with fellow inmate Frank Morris, escaped from Alcatraz in June 1962.