Conrad was a 20-year-old bank teller at the Society National Bank in Cleveland when he walked . January 14, 1998, 3 Survivors of Geronimo Bank Robbery Testify at Neill Retrial. A mere boy a pretty boy with apple cheeks.. Thomas Limerick, a onetime boxcar bandit, became a "public enemy" bank robber in the Gage County area in the 1930s. David lives and works in New York City. But many robbers do find themselves behind bars eventually. One of the most famous bank robbers in American History, "Slick Willie" spent 11 years at Eastern State Penitentiary. As in the earlier days in the west, where criminals such as Jesse James gained the sympathy and even the admiration of citizens who agreed with their activities, some of the famous robbers and murderers of the days of the roving gangs became folk heroes among the poor and the outcast of the depression. Knightsbridge Security Deposit Robbery: The "Italian" Work. The bells notified law enforcement of a robbery taking place in the bank, and often caused the robbers to flee without obtaining any, or at least not very much, cash for their efforts. Movie Inspired Chelambra Bank Heist - Rs 80 Million. The surveillance footage was issued worldwide via news channels, giving Martinez instant bank robber street cred as well as notoriety she probably didnt want. RCDSA. He escaped from prison but was sentenced, in absentia, to 12-15 years behind bars. 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. No deliberation. On the afternoon of November 24, 1971, a nondescript man calling himself Dan Cooper approached the counter of Northwest Orient Airlines in Portland, Oregon. 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. On Friday, February 28th, 1997 the Los Angeles Police Department would face one of the most dangerous criminal acts in its history - The North Hollywood Bank Shootout. Baby Face didnt have a long career, killed by federal agents at the age of 25. Charles Arthur, a.k.a. The gang even participated in kidnappings, however this proved to be their downfall. I wouldn't steal from an individual person because I'm not comfortable with that. ", "Walked in the bank and waited in line like a regular customer. Exactly my point, you are 86, why not? The surviving Youngers were imprisoned, Bob Younger died while in custody in 1889, from tuberculosis. Seventy-five stab wounds were inflicted on the three employees, and the stabbings only ended when they were interrupted by the entry of three customers, who were taken to the back at gunpoint and shot in the head. 9 Million was stolen (which translates to $21.6 Million today). Authorities in four states joined in the search for the fugitives. Wikimedia. The group soon became the hot target of the . Modern day pop culture has kept the tradition alive with movies such as Point Break, HEAT and Reservoir Dogs. 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. Martinez, an attractive college student, would approach a bank teller while talking on her cell phone. Sutton was once asked by a reporter why he robbed banks. A driver remained in the car. Editorial Reviews. The most significant result of the St. Albans raid was the shift of public opinion in Canada regarding support for the Confederacy, with the majority turning against the Confederate activity in Canada, and there were no more raids launched across the northern border. Rebecca Seales, The Daily Mail. However, he has reportedly already died and was never brought to justice. The small explosion occurred in public outside the bank, causing witnesses to take notice of the man. John and Clarence Anglin, along with fellow inmate Frank Morris, escaped from Alcatraz in June 1962. Hamilton went on to commit a spree of chaotic, yet lucrative, bank robberies with the Dillinger gang. FBI. The next day, the depot was robbed. Shutterstock. Three men entered the First National Bank and demanded that the cashier, George Nixon, open the safe and give up the gold coins within. Shootouts. Sutton was the Cal Ripken of bank robbers, participating in over 100 bank robberies over a 35-year span. 5. He was tied up with a necktie and eventually sentenced to life imprisonment, which he served in Alcatraz. Bank of Bangladesh Cyber Robbery ($81M) North Korean hackers attempted to steal $1B from the . Eventually, most of the Tape bandits were rounded up, including Nelson. Train robberies. Mikhaylich was known as the Holiday Bandit due his frequent robberies in late December. He was not, but it was likely that the Sundance Kid was, and if so Cassidy certainly knew about the robbery, which took place as he was in Tipton, Wyoming, making plans for another train robbery. After the Kansas City massacre, in which three police officers and an FBI agent were killed when escorting Frank Nash during a change of custody (Nash was also killed), Pretty Boy Floyd was named by the FBI as one of the gunmen. The brothers were sentenced on federal charges and later received additional time on state charges. In 1945 Sutton, along with 11 other prisoners, escaped from Eastern State in a prisoner-dug tunnel that went almost 100 feet . There's been a lot of train robberies in American history, but one of the most famous is likely the robbery of the Union Pacific Overland Flyer No. Arguably the third largest heist in history, a robbery masterminded by . Approximately a year later, the same man robbed another Spokane bank, stealing $14,000, this time setting off a dye pack that he was given. From 1874 to 1921 it is estimated that Starr robbed over 21 banks, stealing $60,000 in cash. But it was pretty low risk that way, so that was cool with me. "Part of my process did begin with how poorly I thought rich people handled their money. Ruth Brown, New York Post. Other aspects involved each gang member being assigned a job such vault man, driver or lobby man. Nelson also demonstrated a propensity for violence and committed his first known murder during a botched tavern robbery. The shootout began in the parking lot of the Security Pacific Bank, where one robber was killed, leading the others to steal a car in the lot and lead police on a 25-mile chase. Wikimedia. Published Tue, Jul 31 2012 12:33 PM EDT Updated Fri, Sep 13 . Butch and Sundance were alleged to have been killed in 1908 in South America, though their exact fate remains in question. They were never caught, and are believed to be behind similar heists in Paris during the following weeks. After the robbery, they went their separate ways and headed back to their homes. The 2005 Banco Central burglary in Fortaleza, Brazil, was once recognized by Guinness Book of World Records as the world's greatest bank robbery. Mug shot of Lester Gillis, alias George Nelson, known to history as Baby Face Nelson. In 1984, the First National Bank of Chattanooga in Geronimo, Oklahoma, was the site of one of the most vicious bank robberies in American history on December 14 of that year. While most of the men waited outside two men went into the bank, which was staffed by only two men at the time, father and son Greenup Bird and William Bird. Parker was soon arrested during a botched robbery of a hardware store, although she was soon released having not been charged. In 1997, Los Angeles residents witnessed what became the deadliest bank robbery in the history of America. The North Hollywood Bank of America Robbery. They were shot over 50 times, including numerous headshots on each corpse. He used cash to buy a one-way ticket on . OK, in terms of actual . Guarino acted on the information given him by an employee at the World Trade Center, who also gave him his security pass. Maybe its not balls; maybe cocky is the right word to describe him. In 1881, the brothers returned to Missouri. 9. Here are our sources: The Canadian View of the Confederate Raid on Saint Albans. Wikimedia. One of the main things I learned from research was that an overwhelming number of people are caught because they didn't do it solo. Amazingly, they were never caught. The money was returned to the bank. Dillinger was charged; however, many claim it was Hamilton who pulled the trigger. The robbers thought they were going to steal 3 million in cash. The banks, however, consider this kind of theft an acceptable loss, so that was okay with me being part of the loss that they consider acceptable. J.D. Thom Hatch. Turns out she was talking with her accomplice, a boyfriend driving the getaway car outside the banks. 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. James started as a soldier in the Civil War and then, after the war was over, set out to knock off financial institutions to become rich. 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. In addition to violence, Baby Face Nelson also robbed banks, completing his first job by the age of 21 years old. The duo stole firearms and bullet proof vests. ", "No. The most notorious outlaws of the Wild West have long been . These crimes labelled Van Meter 18th on the public enemies list. Green was not a suspect at first, the citizens of Malden unable to believe that a man in his position was capable of such a heinous crime. Theodore J. Conrad pulled off one of the biggest bank robberies in Cleveland's history. ", On morals, and whether he regrets what he did. At the time of his death, he was only 25 years old. The two men had extracted roughly $60,000 from the Savings Association, and though many historians attribute the robbery to being led by Jesse James, it was never officially solved. He began to associate with big time Kansas City mobsters. 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Maybe it was how they asked for the money, their appearance or getaway. Feb 14, 1864, Missouri Bank Cashes In on Jesse James. I keep telling myself that if I live to be old (over eighty) that would be a good time to try heroin or other drugs because, why not? 5. Over a dozen people were murdered by this duo until cops finally killed them. He took part in the Dillinger gangs last bank raid, in which four innocent bystanders were murdered. Nelson decided to form and run his own gang of bank robbers in 1933, on October 3 they robbed the First National Bank of Brainerd, Minnesota, during which Nelson used a Thompson submachine gun to fire indiscriminately at bystanders on the street as they made their escape. Eventually he would do some time (all bank robbers eventually do some time), but that didnt keep Williams from his day job. As great of a criminal as Butch Cassidy was, there are still questions as to how he died. 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. His bank robbery style became known as the Lamm Technique, and was widely imitated by other famous bank robbers, such as John Dillinger. Frank Nash knocked over 200 banks in his time and is known by many as the most successful bank robber of all time. Bettmann Archive/Getty Images. In April 1930, Nelson robbed his first bank and got away with $4000. On the way, Bowman stopped in Utah, Colorado, Nebraska, Iowa, and Missouri. 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. For instance, he has robbed banks dressed as a maintenance man, a postman and a police officer. In January 1958, three brothers brandishing toy pistols robbed the Bank of Columbia in Columbia, Alabama. Bank robbers became part of American folklore in many cases, among them being the James brothers, Butch Cassidy and the Hole in the Wall Gang, the Younger Brothers, and in a later era John Dillinger, Bonnie and Clyde, Willie Sutton, and many others. The 300 million yen robbery caught the interest of international media when it took place in 1968. The suspect's disappearance was a mystery that lasted 52 years - a few months longer than he did. 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. He would simply slide a piece of paper with the word ROBBERY on it to the teller. It was the largest bank robbery in U.S. history at the time. Born in 1847 and raised in the "Little Dixie" area of western Missouri, James and his slave-owning family maintained strong . One difference of course is that he used a machine gun versus a bow and arrow. He was arrested in Dayton, Ohio, transferred to the Allen County Jail, and escaped with the aid of gang members who dressed as Indiana policemen and killed Allen County, Sheriff Jess Sarber. The banks lost about $482 million due to robberies, or $4,213 per offense. Robbing a bank is the ultimate risk and reward, full of thrills, hard cash and consequences if caught. Frank surrendered to the authorities later that year and was tried for two robberies, one in Missouri and one in Alabama. Because no bodies were ever found, the US Marshal service still considers the escape to be an open case. It is important to keep in mind that Butch Cassidy and his "Hole-in-the-Wall Gang" are one of the few successful bands of bank robbers during this time period. After this he had difficulty holding down a job and began to plan a robbery with a friend. Today its very hard to pull off a bank job, yet each day approximately 20 banks are robbed in the U.S. alone! After robbing the wife of the Chicago mayor, he earned his nickname. In 1972, the name of then US President Richard Nixon was . Descriptions of some of the robbers led to arrests and authorities learned of plans for further robberies during interrogations, but the police were unable to locate the ringleader of the group, Harry Pierpont. He has been a guest speaker on numerous national radio and television stations and is a five time published author. They used dynamite to blast a hole in the roof of the safe deposit vault at United California Bank and looted $30 million in cash and valuables. When talking about famous thieves, one can't leave out Albert Spaggiari. Wikimedia. I told him I was 100% sure that they had the amount wrong. Hunter. 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. 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. 2013, Bank Robbers In Motorcar. Library of Congress. Beginning in the 1930s, and in some cases even earlier in larger cities and towns, banks installed security mechanisms to protect themselves and their employees from robberies. In February 1864, Green was arrested and after questioning admitted that he had committed the murder and robbery, informing the authorities where the remaining money was hidden. For his third escape, he dressed as a prison guard and carried a ladder to the prison wall at night; when the searchlight hit him he shouted: its ok! and nobody stopped him. They would commonly participate in gun battles with police, in which innocent bystanders were often killed. Williams and his gang were known for being able to do bank jobs in under a minute. The . A crowd gathers at Chicagos Biograph theater after the death of John Dillinger, July 22, 1934. 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. He wasnt hurt, but the car was disabled, and soon after he engaged in a chase with police. Sutton later answered the question, after admitting he never said the famous quote: Why did I rob banks? Wikimedia. Volney Davis was the boyfriend of Edna "rabbits" Murray. The gang of outlaws which included Jesse and Frank James and the Younger brothers robbed banks, trains, stagecoaches, at least one fair, stores, and other victims from around 1867 until 1876, when a bank robbery in Northfield, Minnesota went wrong for the criminals. "They just want to give you what you want and for you to get the hell out of their bank.". He was nicknamed slick for the many disguises he wore on the job. Christopher Goodwin, The Times (London). The most famous aspect of the Lamm Technique was casing the bank before the robbery, and planning getaway routes so as to leave nothing to chance. Martinez, an attractive college student, would approach a bank teller while talking on her cell phone. He moved to America shortly before the outbreak of World War I, and became a hold up man; quickly adapting his military training, his study of tactics and his precision and discipline to the art of crime. Hunter robbed his first bank when he was 86 years old. Ted Conrad was working as a teller at the . When a man going by the name Brushy Bill Roberts (above, left) surfaced in Texas in 1950 seeking pardon for the crimes of Billy the Kid, the media took notice. Though he's probably one of Texas's most famous outlaws, Sam Bass is widely regarded to have been a rather inept criminal. The exact number of men who entered the town and gathered together in front of the Clay County Savings Association differs; according to accounts it was anywhere from ten to fourteen. Floyds support from the public was especially evident in Oklahoma, where residents sheltered and protected him, in return for financial largesse, an eventuality which infuriated J. Edgar Hoover. When asked why he did it, his response was because it felt good, sometimes for days at a time. 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. A fresh take on sports: the biggest news and most entertaining lists. The post-war violence between the former Confederate supporters and Unionists led to him being a popular figure among the former, despite the frequency and violence of his crimes. Local newspapers led the speculation that the robbery was the work of former Confederate guerrillas, others speculated that the robbers had been from Kansas, so called Redlegs who had been supportive of the Union cause during the recently concluded Civil War. Beginning in late 1924 and stretching into the early spring of 1925 a series of bank robberies throughout Indiana baffled authorities, as bank after bank found itself victim to a gang which simply vanished into thin air following the robberies. It was the largest amount ever stolen from a bank in U.S. history. But to me, the money was the chips, thats all.. The robbery involved a political bribery scandal, surfboard repair kits and lots of dynamite. When those convictions were overturned (they had been tried together) they have tried again, in separate trials, and again both were convicted. The Rich Hill Tribune, August 19, 1909. I never told anyone what I was doing. Following his escape from Allen County, Dillinger participated in at least ten additional bank robberies over the course of the next year, was captured again, escaped again, and became a subject of international notoriety. Over the next few years he participated in several bank robberies, and it was in this period that he acquired his nickname. Whoever the culprits had been, they had burrowed through 100 feet of soil from a nearby sewer drain, and had drilled . Knightsbridge Security Deposit Robbery of $98 Million, 1987. After the cashier reluctantly complied the men made their escape with about $32,000, most of it in gold. On Feb. 10, 1997, Bowman and Kirkpatrick robbed the Seafirst Bank of $4,461,681.00. Often several different gangs occupied it simultaneously, though they did not coordinate their various nefarious activities. The father of a man who was kidnapped was friends with President Franklin D Roosevelt, and as a result the FBI stepped up their efforts greatly to foil this type of crime. She just shrugged -- palms up like a little kid -- and said, "That's all I got." For a short while, Nelson was number one on the FBI list of public enemies. As a young man he enlisted in the US Navy, but was dishonorably discharged after he deserted. Green had come to rob the bank, and the fact that he was so well known meant that he could not leave behind any witnesses. Butch Cassidy (seated at right) and the Wild Bunch, one of several gangs which used Hole in the Wall Pass as a hideout. 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. 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. After Pretty Boy Floyd was killed Nelson inherited the designation of Public Enemy Number One. Oh-so-coincidentally, the next day, six bandits got into the garage with keys in hand, then tied up . Baby Face Nelson was a prominent member of John Dillingers gang who, along with Homer Van Meter, had a particular reputation for violence. He was also an associate of John Dillinger, Alvin Karpis and the Barker gang. 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. They impersonated police officers, telling the Sheriff they had come to extradite Dillinger to Indiana. 1. Nov 18, 2020. There's one . During their exceedingly violent career together the pair probably robbed less than a dozen banks, and in several cases the robbery was interrupted by law enforcement, forcing the thieves to flee before securing all of the cash, often in a hail of bullets from Clyde Barrows weapon of choice, the Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR). Hamilton attended the liberation at Lima Jail but did not enter the building, instead serving as a lookout. bank. 5. Two members of his gang survived and James Oklahoma Jack Clark went on to join the Dillinger gang after being imprisoned, though Dillinger told Clark he couldnt join them unless he told him everything he knew about the Lamm Technique. At the time, it was described as "the crime of the century." The gang gained entry to the warehouse from security guard Anthony Black. These ruthless thieves would burst in and ransack the bank, usually forcing a manager to open the vault. On September 26, 1933, a total of 10 men, including Hamilton, escaped using smuggled guns from the recently paroled John Dillinger. The only caveat is, it's successful as long as you don't get caught. I enjoyed everything about it so much that one or two weeks later Id be out looking for the next job. Dillinger was born in Indiana and originally had no ties to crime. Ill admit that Patty Hearst probably belongs more in a Most Interesting versus Greatest bank robbers list, but here you go anyway. However, this was invented by a reporter who never even interviewed Sutton. Sometimes you are born into the lifestyle, and for Lester M. Gillis that came at the tender age of 12 when he first shot someone with a gun. A patrol car with visible bullet damage following the Norco shootout, following a bank robbery. On September 26, 1933, a total of 10 men, including . Here are 10 of the most famous and notorious of these outlaws of the Wild West. These gangsters graduated into armed robbers and became known as the Tape Bandits, of which Nelson was a respected member. Herman Baron Lamm was a German American bank robber who is widely considered the father of modern bank robbery. Still, theres got to be something to walking into the prison yard and being asked what you do and reply with Bank Robber. There are much worse things to put on your prison resume. As robbers and thieves, nobody was better than the comparatively low-profile Newton and his brothers, who later were popularized in a middling 1998 movie as "The Newton Boys."In a blink of about five years in the 1920s, the Newtons (and an occasional accomplice) pulled off about 70 bank heists (give or take a dozen), ripped off six trains and, in their pice de rsistance, cleared somewhere . Dillinger was killed in Chicago in 1934, and more than 15,000 people waited in line to view his body before his internment in Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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.