5. " Will Rogers (1879-1935) " Rev. After the robbery, they went their separate ways and headed back to their homes. As the sons of migrant farmworkers, they had often visited Michigan in the spring and early summer as their parents picked fruit. August 6, 2012, The Last Outlaws: The Lives and Legends of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. The riders escaped pursuit by a posse. In addition to violence, Baby Face Nelson also robbed banks, completing his first job by the age of 21 years old. A patrol car with visible bullet damage following the Norco shootout, following a bank robbery. After being apprehended again, he was sentenced to 50 years imprisonment. The surviving Youngers were imprisoned, Bob Younger died while in custody in 1889, from tuberculosis. That would be the equivalent of approximately $5 million today. Before the American Civil War, most thefts from banks were burglaries, among them the taking of over $150,000 from the Bank of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia in 1798, when the thief or thieves entered the bank after hours, leaving no sign of force. An estimated $5. The police in automobiles were able to run them down quickly, and they were apprehended and taken to jail. A group of men in ski masks entered the building using a key that Pace had kept after he was fired. 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. In the late 1920s Lester Gillis, who used the alias George Nelson, was developing a budding criminal career by performing home invasions stealing cash, jewelry, and furs, and robbing stores and taverns. The robbers weren't caught until January 1956. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? The men were John, Clarence, and Alfred Anglin, and they did not wear masks. It happened in Pennsylvania, in the Bank of Pennsylvania at Carpenters' Hall. I told him I was 100% sure that they had the amount wrong. 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. He asked for credentials, so they shot him and Dillinger escaped with them. He was pissed, of course, because it wasn't closing time, and he thought he had gotten there too late. News on all your favorite celebs, reality TV, and movies. 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 . In 1976, when Lebanon was in the midst of a civil war, a group of robbers decided to cash in on the confusion. During one robbery Nelson was reported to have sprayed innocent bystanders with machine gun bullets while screaming wildly. 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. Parker first met Clyde Barrow at a friends house. 1. Library of Congress. Wikimedia. His demise finally came when he attended the Biograph Theatre, in Chicago. He would simply slide a piece of paper with the word ROBBERY on it to the teller. So he told the police, the police told the bank, the bank checked the video..and they saw her take it. 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. Jesse Woodson James was an American outlaw, bank and train robber, guerrilla, and leader of the James-Younger Gang. A fresh take on sports: the biggest news and most entertaining lists. Johnny D. Boggs, True West Magazine. 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. October 18, 2009, Baby Face Nelson. Bettmann Archive/Getty Images. The crime spree started with the robbery of the South Marion State Bank in November 1924. 10. Whilst in prison he tried to escape with another prisoner. 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. 8 Candice Rose Martinez. He was sentenced to life imprisonment and spent most of his adult life in Alcatraz. You can reach David on Twitter @david_s_grant and his website www.pulpscribbler.com. I guess you can blame Stockholm Syndrome here, but this is pretty crazy even to me (someone that totally believes Johnny Utah would join the Dead Presidents in their bank robbing adventures). Bank robberies are a major plot device in films, particularly the once-popular western genre, though in reality bank robberies in the American western frontier days were relatively rare. Thomas Limerick, a onetime boxcar bandit, became a "public enemy" bank robber in the Gage County area in the 1930s. In January 1958, three brothers brandishing toy pistols robbed the Bank of Columbia in Columbia, Alabama. 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. Butch Cassidy: Butch Cassidy was the leader of one of the famous robbery gangs, Wild Butch Gang. On April 23, 1934, the gang were confronted by police and, during a getaway, Hamilton was wounded and died shortly after. Shirlee Pigeon, Riverside Sheriffs Association, 2010. The escapees then travelled to Lima County jail to liberate Dillinger. The trio then proceeded to rob a bank in Minnesota for $32,000. Professional burglars Amil and James Dinsio with their nephews, brother-in-law, and two other associates, who were good at disarming the alarms, pull off the largest heist in U.S. history. ", "No. 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. Nelson also demonstrated a propensity for violence and committed his first known murder during a botched tavern robbery. At the time, it was described as "the crime of the century." The gang gained entry to the warehouse from security guard Anthony Black. Jesse was murdered there by Bob Ford in 1882 in St. Joseph. The Rich Hill Tribune, August 19, 1909. 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. In fact, Dillinger was one of the first in his gang to be killed. Most of the robbers were caught but the gold remains at large. Bass's one and only big haul was in September of . Box 146, folder 2. Volney Davis was the boyfriend of Edna rabbits Murray. (Bank Robber) Willie Sutton, born as William Francis Sutton, was an American bank robber notorious for his prolific criminal career which lasted for forty years. Herman Baron Lamm was a German American bank robber who is widely considered the father of modern bank robbery. Barrow was armed with a sawed-off shotgun. He also participated in many high profile bank robberies until his death at the Battle of Barrington. Cassidy ordered the bank vault's location and made away with a box full of money amounting to more than twenty thousand dollars. However, this was invented by a reporter who never even interviewed Sutton. Moments later, cops were racing through San Isidro, a leafy, affluent suburb north . The robbers were armed with rifles, handguns, and shotguns. Although Al Capone had been named Public Enemy Number One by the city of Chicago in 1930, John Dillinger was the first to hold the title as bestowed nationally by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Mikhaylich was known as the Holiday Bandit due his frequent robberies in late December. The most famous line about robbing banks was coined by Willie Sutton when asked why he continued to rob banks: Because thats where the money is.. It was 12:38 in the afternoon on January 13, 2006, when the call went out to police: a bank robbery in progress. In April 1930, Nelson robbed his first bank and got away with $4000. Robbing banks was Dillingers bread and butter, and often included elaborate plans that placed him front and center, demanding attention of security, tellers and customers. Sutton carried on his criminal career whilst on the run, but eventually ended up spending more than half his adult life in prison. The Central Bank of Iraq Robbery - $920 million. 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. The most notorious outlaws of the Wild West have long been . 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. Exactly my point, you are 86, why not? Valerio and his associates entered the facility, pretending to be customers. His numerous prison escapes also added to his legend. Anyway, here are the stories of five famous bank robberies. Only one of the robbers wore a mask, the others were easily identified and arrested. John Dillinger, Bonnie and Clyde, Pretty Boy Floyd, and several others, were cheered by those who had been hurt by the banks during the collapse of many of them in the early days of the depression. As it became evident that Green was paying off his debts, the townspeople began to wonder where the money had come from. ", "When my lawyer first brought all my paperwork to me, I noticed that the amount was $100 off for that particular bank. He was shot dozens of times, and several of his fingers were blown off. The robbery involved a political bribery scandal, surfboard repair kits and lots of dynamite. The 300 million yen robbery caught the interest of international media when it took place in 1968. John and Clarence Anglin, along with fellow inmate Frank Morris, escaped from Alcatraz in June 1962. The Banco Central burglary Stolen: $71.6 million. 1. On September 26, 1933, a total of 10 men, including . The pursuit included the local militia, who killed or captured the remaining members of the gang. After ensuring that the teenager was alone in the bank, Green shot him in the back of the head and left with about $5,000. May 6, 1925, Its an old up! Dillinger was charged; however, many claim it was Hamilton who pulled the trigger. Who wouldnt be curious? August 3, 2012, 3 Gunmen Rob Guards of $1.6 Million at World Trade Center Bank. "She also pocketed a $100 bill for herself. The Bank of Montpelier/Facebook. The duo stole firearms and bullet proof vests. Click to learn more. Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker were ambushed, in May 1934. It was later determined that Hamilton left over $300 in quarters and half-dollars in the cash drawers. 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. Floyd grew up in Oklahoma, and was first arrested at age 18, after stealing $3.50 from a post office. Via: The Richest. Floyd was killed in an Ohio field on the night of October 22, 1934, though several different versions of the events that night emerged from the participants in the shooting and witnesses. 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. Via cbsnews.com. Here is a countdown of the 10 most famous robberies in history. During his criminal career, which was a short and violent one, he was only accused of personally killing one individual, an East Chicago police officer, though his associates killed many more while committing robberies and eluding capture. It was she who labeled him as having a baby face and the sobriquet Baby Face Nelson was quickly bandied about in the press of the day when describing his crimes. This marked the beginning of forty-four minutes of endless shooting all caught live. November 1968, Why family believes Alcatraz escapees survived their journey. Dale Ingram, Tulsa World. 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. As great of a criminal as Butch Cassidy was, there are still questions as to how he died. After the United States government protested to the British authorities the raiders were arrested in Canada and the money seized. 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. Williams and his gang were known for being able to do bank jobs in under a minute. The brothers were sentenced on federal charges and later received additional time on state charges. The Birds were then ordered into the vault and the two men left. The infamous Ohio State Penitentiary in Columbus was one of the nations most notorious prisons when Pierpont was sent there for execution. On August 23rd, 1934, Van Meter was ambushed by four police officers and brutally gunned down. 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. 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. 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. Jesse James robbed many banks and killed several men, but his legend overshadows his true history. He conned his way into a program that allowed him out of prison during the day to attend the University of Michigan. In August he robbed another, in Bluffton, Ohio. The most famous of the gangs which used the pass was that known as the Wild Bunch, led by Robert Leroy Parker, also known as Butch Cassidy, and his partner Harry Longabaugh, known to history as the Sundance Kid. 7. There's no discussion. One of the most famous bank robberies is that of the Coffeyville raid in Kansas. The story is an interesting tale of false accusation, coupled with the usual case of not-so-witting, post-heist behaviors of the robbers. January 24, 2018, Harry Pierpont Turns State Evidence In His Trial For Bank Robbery. It's almost a nostalgic thing. "Only the Internet. 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 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. 8. On that Friday morning, after months of planning two armed bank robbers entered and robbed the North Hollywood Bank of America branch in California. . Martinez, an attractive college student, would approach a bank teller while talking on her cell phone. Here are some of the most notorious bank robberies or robbers in American history. Jay, Clarke, Universal Press Syndicate, Chicago Tribune. Eventually, Pierpont was tried for the murder of the Allen County Sheriff in Ohio, convicted and sentenced to death. As tropes in crime films go, the slick bank heist is one of the most romantic and frequent, ripe for cool cinematography, interesting costume and brazen dialogue. I studied countless reports of other robberies that had gone wrong and people who were caught. In May 1936, the FBI located Karpis in New Orleans, and surrounded his car. Escaping successfully, Pierpont was involved in several additional bank robberies with Dillinger. This is how it works in America because the amount of money a bank gives up ($5-$7k on average) per bank robbery is infinitely less than the amount of business they'd lose if shit got wild in a bank full of customers. Famous American Bank Robbers. From 1874 to 1921 it is estimated that Starr robbed over 21 banks, stealing $60,000 in cash. After serving seven years in prison, Van Meter was paroled. A posse of rangers opened fire into Barrows stolen car as he approached, at high speed, down a rural Louisiana road. As a young man he enlisted in the US Navy, but was dishonorably discharged after he deserted. The robbers left with $6,700 in cash, unwittingly leaving behind another $9,000 safely hidden in file cabinets. Dillinger and his gang, which included for a time notorious gangster George "Baby Face" Nelson, were suspected of robbing $52,000 from the First National Bank in Mason City on March 13, 1934. On the morning of June 9th, 1986, employees at Hollywood's First Interstate Bank showed up for work, preparing for the long week ahead. The only money the gang managed to take during the robbery was a few bags of nickels. He was the last remaining public enemy, all the others having being captured or killed. The Great Depression began with the Wall Street crash in 1929, and lasted well into the following decades. Turns out she was talking with her accomplice, a boyfriend driving the getaway car outside the banks. Along with his partner Sundance Kid, the couple was famous for famous historic robberies. Ruth Brown, New York Post. Because no bodies were ever found, the US Marshal service still considers the escape to be an open case. They were both convicted of the crimes in 1985 and sentenced to death for capital murder and several other crimes in connection with the robbery. James was not positively identified by any witnesses (though he was well known in the area), and none of the money was ever recovered. In 1879, Jesse returned to crime, with a new gang he engaged in a string of robberies in Missouri, Mississippi, and Louisiana, though Frank had by then given up the life of robberies and running. He used cash to buy a one-way ticket on . Townspeople raised the alarm and armed men were awaiting the robbers as they exited the bank. Before they left, the Termites started a fire that set off the sprinkler system and flooded the building. "I think morality is very subjective. He also stole the Sheriffs new Ford car to make his getaway. Is it strange that every time I walk into a bank I lightly case the joint? They killed at least nine people during their spree, including civilians. At the time of his death, he was 31 years old. 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. The Brink's-MAT robbery occurred on November 26th, 1983, when six robbers broke into the Brink's-MAT warehouse at Heathrow Airport, London. On September 26, 1933, a total of 10 men, including Hamilton, escaped using smuggled guns from the recently paroled John Dillinger. 7. . 3. David lives and works in New York City. There was some armed resistance from the citizens of the town, and gunfire was exchanged leading to one townsman being killed and another wounded, with one of the raiders, wounded as well. Although rumored to have been a nice guy, he murdered his partner, Nollie Humpy Wortman, after they completed a job.