When I used to maintain bank cameras there was a Shawmut branch on School Street that would get hit regularly and the robbers would just dip into the State Street stop next to the Old South Meeting House. But the trains were more reliable back then.
One guy went to rob that branch and threatened the teller not to put a dye pack in his bag. She'd been held up multiple times, dgaf, and stuffed one in the bag anyway. I got there right after the call because I was already in the neighborhood. FBI had walked over and were already a few doors down from the bank, with the dye-covered bag, and I could see the robber's dye-covered shirt further down the street.
The North End got hit a lot too. Feds said the robbers like banks that cops can't get to easily with their cars. But I don't think there's that much planning involved with most stick-up guys beyond their own immediate convenience.
I really thought the Boston crime movie genre had been completely mined and played out. I must confess that I was wrong. This needs to be a movie as soon as possible.
It's easy to point to this as the downside of all that walkable-neighborhood, transit-oriented-development stuff -- what's a simple stickup man to do to make a buck, I ask you! -- but really good cycling infrastructure would fix this problem: https://historythings.com/choir-boy-bandit-robbed-26-banks-98-2002-just-...
It's a stupid premise and situation to be in all around but if someone wasn't clued in to how sophisticated some of these camera systems were I guess I could see the logic of using a subway as a get away. You have crowds, confusion, multiple routes of exit, it moves you quickly (well in theory.) These days it also instantly puts you on camera. I'm not sure if Boston and the MBTA have camera sharing rights but that's a new trend among abutting systems, to allow for quick access to each other's systems.
Robbing a bank is stupid in itself but robbing a downtown area bank is even more so. There's just not any realistic quick exit no matter what you do. Any place that would be accessible and large enough to vanish in is secured and or covered in cameras too.
I suspect their planning process can be measured in minutes if not seconds. They probably didn't consider the getaway until they walked out with the cash.
When I lived in Atlanta... someone robbed the BestBuy store near Lenox Square (mall) of two very tall speakers. Then to get away, walked with them down to the Lenox MARTA station and got on the train.
He was caught one stop away at Lindbergh station. LOL
Comments
This guy needs to find a new
This guy needs to find a new line of crime to engage in as it's clear he isn't cut out for the getaway part of robbery
BANK ROBBER
Well, we are trying to get people out of the automobile and onto public transportation.
Stupid criminal tricks
It sounds to me like this bumbling idiot should find another way to make a living.
Benny, on his way from EB to West Roxbury
Struggles to reconcile no seating before Tufts and bank robbers
Would be a perfect headline
Would be a perfect headline if ended at the 'Line.'
Has no one told him about
Has no one told him about Uber?
What kind of dumbass robs a
What kind of dumbass robs a bank?
Downtown Crossing robbers are special
When I used to maintain bank cameras there was a Shawmut branch on School Street that would get hit regularly and the robbers would just dip into the State Street stop next to the Old South Meeting House. But the trains were more reliable back then.
One guy went to rob that branch and threatened the teller not to put a dye pack in his bag. She'd been held up multiple times, dgaf, and stuffed one in the bag anyway. I got there right after the call because I was already in the neighborhood. FBI had walked over and were already a few doors down from the bank, with the dye-covered bag, and I could see the robber's dye-covered shirt further down the street.
The North End got hit a lot too. Feds said the robbers like banks that cops can't get to easily with their cars. But I don't think there's that much planning involved with most stick-up guys beyond their own immediate convenience.
I really thought the Boston
I really thought the Boston crime movie genre had been completely mined and played out. I must confess that I was wrong. This needs to be a movie as soon as possible.
Downsides of walkable downtowns
It's easy to point to this as the downside of all that walkable-neighborhood, transit-oriented-development stuff -- what's a simple stickup man to do to make a buck, I ask you! -- but really good cycling infrastructure would fix this problem: https://historythings.com/choir-boy-bandit-robbed-26-banks-98-2002-just-...
/s
A+ headline
Take a bow.
It's a stupid premise and
It's a stupid premise and situation to be in all around but if someone wasn't clued in to how sophisticated some of these camera systems were I guess I could see the logic of using a subway as a get away. You have crowds, confusion, multiple routes of exit, it moves you quickly (well in theory.) These days it also instantly puts you on camera. I'm not sure if Boston and the MBTA have camera sharing rights but that's a new trend among abutting systems, to allow for quick access to each other's systems.
Robbing a bank is stupid in itself but robbing a downtown area bank is even more so. There's just not any realistic quick exit no matter what you do. Any place that would be accessible and large enough to vanish in is secured and or covered in cameras too.
You give them too much credit
I suspect their planning process can be measured in minutes if not seconds. They probably didn't consider the getaway until they walked out with the cash.
Agreed
I think the main consideration is when they have used up all the money from the last stick-up.
After one robbery I pulled up the robber on the camera recording for a detective and he said "Oh, I know him! We'll just go pick him up at his house."
A Masshole kind of dumbass.
A Masshole kind of dumbass.
LOL
When I lived in Atlanta... someone robbed the BestBuy store near Lenox Square (mall) of two very tall speakers. Then to get away, walked with them down to the Lenox MARTA station and got on the train.
He was caught one stop away at Lindbergh station. LOL
Cue the Theme Song
Yakety Sax
I thought all criminals used the T
Isn't that why neighborhood groups are always opposed to extending the T (Arlington, West Medford, etc.)? Because it will bring criminals?