Daring Robber does the daylight disappearing act

I am not in favor of bank robbery, or any other type of crime. But you have to admit, this still-free Seattle bank robber had a certain flair. That’s how it all shook.

In late September 2008, an unknown person placed an ad for a job interview on the local Craigslist. As a result, he (or she) had several dozen people show up at a local bank at the same time. They all agreed to wear safety glasses, a yellow vest and a respirator mask. And many of them were wearing the blue shirt they were asked to wear “if possible.”

The thief also appeared when everyone arrived, wearing the same outfit. Although it seemed like he was part of the crowd, he had something else with him: a can of pepper spray. Using the crowd as camouflage, the robber first fired the pepper spray at a guard in an armored vehicle. When the guard was temporarily subdued and disoriented, the robber grabbed several bags of cash and ran off.

Now, if that wasn’t enough, just like in a B-grade movie, the robber dove into the nearby river. But he had a well prepared plan. He swam up and unfastened an inflated inner tube. After getting on it, he simply paddled away. The last time he was seen was floating down the river.

So what would you do if you ever found yourself in the middle of a bank robbery? The most important thing is to protect yourself. Don’t be a hero. Let the thief have what he wants. His money is insured, so why risk his safety?

You can be angry, you can be afraid, but you have to control yourself. There’s a good chance the thief is desperate. After all, don’t you have to be a little desperate to try to rob a bank? If that’s the case, why mess with someone who is in that psychological situation?

If you still want to be heroic, you can try to notice and remember details about the thieves. Your physical characteristics, such as your weight, height, and the color of your hair and eyes. Look for tattoos or scars. See if they have unusual gestures.

Don’t stare though, because the bank robber doesn’t want to get caught and he’ll probably know why you’re staring so hard. Again, the best thing to do is to keep a low profile and let the thief take what he wants so you and everyone else can stay safe.

And, if you see the bank robber driving away, try to remember what the getaway car looks like and the direction it was headed. After it’s gone, don’t touch anything. You don’t want to destroy evidence or disturb the crime scene.