Williams and his gang were known for being able to do bank jobs in under a minute. An estimated $5. Hoover wouldnt have to wait long. 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. 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. In 1972, the name of then US President Richard Nixon was . Bettmann Archive/Getty Images. ", "When my lawyer first brought all my paperwork to me, I noticed that the amount was $100 off for that particular bank. At the time of the robbery, Jesse James was bedridden as he recovered from a chest wound, and while it is likely that the thieves were members of the gang with which Jesse later rode, he was most likely not present at the robbery which later became known as his first. Warsaw Daily Times. 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). She started screaming "lock the doors, lock the doors" but I ignored it and just kept walking like nothing was happening. His means of robbing banks were never violent; in fact the machine gun he carried was empty. The 20 best bank robbery movies - IMDb The case eluded officials for decades, until an obituary appeared online and family secrets began to unravel. By 1932 Nelson had been caught, convicted, and sentenced to prison, though he escaped during a prison transfer in 1932. 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 . But to me, the money was the chips, thats all.. 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. When asked why he did it, his response was because it felt good, sometimes for days at a time. In prison he met Fred Barker who was serving a sentence for bank burglary. Butch and Sundance were alleged to have been killed in 1908 in South America, though their exact fate remains in question. Eventually, most of the Tape bandits were rounded up, including Nelson. 10. The robbery was a near disaster though he still managed to make a clean getaway. 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. 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. Here are our sources: The Canadian View of the Confederate Raid on Saint Albans. The victim said: He was good looking, hardly more than a boy. He was pissed, of course, because it wasn't closing time, and he thought he had gotten there too late. Butch Cassidy (seated at right) and the Wild Bunch, one of several gangs which used Hole in the Wall Pass as a hideout. When talking about famous thieves, one can't leave out Albert Spaggiari. Here are some of the most notorious bank robberies or robbers in American history. Four days after his arrest, Dillinger oversaw the smuggling of weapons into his friends prison cells, and they escaped, but not before killing two guards. Today its very hard to pull off a bank job, yet each day approximately 20 banks are robbed in the U.S. alone! The Birds were then ordered into the vault and the two men left. Cold-blooded murder. 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 . At the time of his death, he was 27 years old. 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. A group of men in ski masks entered the building using a key that Pace had kept after he was fired. In 1945 Sutton, along with 11 other prisoners, escaped from Eastern State in a prisoner-dug tunnel that went almost 100 feet . January 14, 1998, 3 Survivors of Geronimo Bank Robbery Testify at Neill Retrial. Pity. Nov 18, 2020. After serving seven years in prison, Van Meter was paroled. But the James brothers aren't the only bank robbers to become household names. Steven Nickel and William J. Helmer. He received a life sentence but escaped during a prison transfer. 23 Most Famous Thieves of All Time You've Never Heard of John Dillinger was almost as famous as Al Capone. 10 Unsolved Heists We Won't Soon Forget - Treehugger 9. Volney Davis was the boyfriend of Edna "rabbits" Murray. Kent, UK; 2006. Before he became one of the most wanted outlaws in the west, Cassidy was born as Robert Leroy Parker in Utah. You can reach David on Twitter @david_s_grant and his website www.pulpscribbler.com. They fled to the north. The Great Northfield, Minnesota, Raid. Is it possible he is still alive? Whilst incarcerated he became embittered against society, and began to mix with notorious criminals such as Harry Pierpoint and James Oklahoma Jack Clark. 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. Floyd robbed more than thirty banks and killed at least ten men during his criminal career. The robbers shot up more than two dozen patrol cars and damaged a police helicopter. He managed to shoot his way to an escape, although his pregnant girlfriend was shot in the thigh. Hamilton went on to commit a spree of chaotic, yet lucrative, bank robberies with the Dillinger gang. On December the 10 th, just under 300 million yen was loaded into one of the bank's transportation cars. I wouldn't steal from an individual person because I'm not comfortable with that. The robber named Theodore John Conrad was at the top of the United States' most wanted list at the age of 20 when he was working as a bank teller at the Society National Bank in Cleveland, Ohio. The gang even participated in kidnappings, however this proved to be their downfall. 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. 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. Dar Es Salaam Bank - Take the Money and Stroll. 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. Stolen: 53.1 million ($83 million) This brazen heist remains the largest cash robbery in British history and was executed with a more violent vision . Three men entered the First National Bank and demanded that the cashier, George Nixon, open the safe and give up the gold coins within. On that Friday morning, after months of planning two armed bank robbers entered and robbed the North Hollywood Bank of America branch in California. A real life Money Heist these are the 10 biggest bank robberies of According to reports, 18 perpetrators are still at large. Most bank robbers, at least the popular ones, had characteristics that set them apart. During one robbery Nelson was reported to have sprayed innocent bystanders with machine gun bullets while screaming wildly. All three were identified by persons who knew them and subsequently captured by the Cleveland police. 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. 5 Legendary Wild West Outlaws - HISTORY The Banco Central burglary Stolen: $71.6 million. After exiting the theatre the FBI were waiting for him and he was shot down as he tried to escape down a nearby alleyway. The chase covered seven miles before police caught up with them. 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. 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 ran errands for gangsters when he was 10 years old, and soon garnered a reputation for reliability. Turns out she was talking with her accomplice, a boyfriend driving the getaway car outside the banks. 01/10/2022. However, he has reportedly already died and was never brought to justice. Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow are among the most famous outlaws in history. On the morning of June 9th, 1986, employees at Hollywood's First Interstate Bank showed up for work, preparing for the long week ahead. 5. 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? 8 of the Most Notorious Outlaws in Texas History - Wide Open Country As the sons of migrant farmworkers, they had often visited Michigan in the spring and early summer as their parents picked fruit. Not fake talking on her phone as a distraction, but carrying on an actual conversation while slipping the teller a this is a robbery note. For instance, he has robbed banks dressed as a maintenance man, a postman and a police officer. In addition to violence, Baby Face Nelson also robbed banks, completing his first job by the age of 21 years old. He started with several banks in New York City and then moved to New Jersey before coming back to the city where he would eventually get caught driving a stolen delivery car. Notorious Bank Robbers in History - ThoughtCo Dillinger wanted to be more famous than Capone and let everyone know who he was. I told him I was 100% sure that they had the amount wrong. 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. ", "I still acknowledge what I've done, but the process and experience of going to prison and finding myself (as well as a purpose in life) has really made it all worth it, relatively speaking. 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. The most notorious outlaws of the Wild West have long been . Philip And Matasareanu Were Heavily Medicated During The North Hollywood Bank Robbery Shootout. I simply walked up to them when it was my turn to be helped, and I told them -- usually via handwritten instructions on an envelope -- to give me their $50s and $100s. Two bank robbers and one deputy died in the gun battle, nine officers were wounded. 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. Money Heist in real life: 5 largest cash heists in US history 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, serving "three years and some change". 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. He was charged with the murder of a police officer during his criminal career, though many witnesses insisted John Hamilton performed the killing. This makes the act of tunneling into a bank, or other unlawful entry such as forcing the locks, technically a burglary rather than a robbery, but in the public imagination they are one and the same thing for the most part. Frank Nash knocked over 200 banks in his time and is known by many as the most successful bank robber of all time. Blessed Are the Bank Robbers: The True Adventures of an Evangelical The infamous Ohio State Penitentiary in Columbus was one of the nations most notorious prisons when Pierpont was sent there for execution. He has also escaped from prison multiple times. 10 Truly Successful Thieves - Listverse He is renowned for his brilliant and efficient style, planning and executing robberies like military operations. The Soboba Grab and Dash was a casino heist straight out of the Hollywood movies. (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. 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. 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. He began to associate with big time Kansas City mobsters. One of the most famous bank robbers in American History, "Slick Willie" spent 11 years at Eastern State Penitentiary. The 15 Greatest Bank Robbers of All Time | TheRichest The robbery involved a political bribery scandal, surfboard repair kits and lots of dynamite. When it comes to weapons, 44.8% of robbers used strong-arm tactics, 36.4% used firearms, and 8.5% used knives or cutting instruments. The plan was pretty simply stay out of our way or die. It took exactly zero technology to catch the bad . I have tried to rank in order of reputation and skill. 12 Nebraska outlaws and their stories - JournalStar.com Shutterstock. Dillinger was charged; however, many claim it was Hamilton who pulled the trigger. "Part of my process did begin with how poorly I thought rich people handled their money. 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. ", On how he didn't carry a gun or threaten people. Read through and the next time you visit your bank, remember to take a look up and smile for the camera. The pair robbed banks together during the 1930s. 10 Best Unsolved Bank Robberies - Eskify After getting pinched for robbing a gas station, he met John Dillinger and others in prison who taught himthe trade, and then escaped prison to work with Dillinger and his associates. It was the largest bank robbery in U.S. history at the time. Votes: 20,895 | Gross: $0.42M List of bank robbers and robberies - Wikipedia 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. Unfortunately for Rountree he got caught each time he robbed a bank and ended up doing 12 years in prison where he eventually died. Later in life, Nelson became involved with some local gangsters, driving bootleg alcohol for them through the Chicago suburbs. Hearst, the heir to millions, was kidnapped and later arrested as an accomplice with the Symbionese Liberation Armyafter they robbed a bank in San Francisco. He committed his first major robbery in the 1920s, burglarizing a hospital in Tulsa. Willie Sutton loved using disguises to rob banks. Sutton was once asked by a reporter why he robbed banks. Baron Lamm died, aged 40, after a botched bank robbery when his gang crashed their getaway car. He was paroled in 1932, and began to commit small time robberies with Parker. In May 1936, the FBI located Karpis in New Orleans, and surrounded his car. He also participated in many high profile bank robberies until his death at the Battle of Barrington. Bank of Bangladesh Cyber Robbery ($81M) North Korean hackers attempted to steal $1B from the . 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. 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. Ill admit that Patty Hearst probably belongs more in a Most Interesting versus Greatest bank robbers list, but here you go anyway. 25 Biggest Robberies, Raids, And Heists Ever Who are some famous bank robbers that got away with the money? After being on the run for two years, Nelson robbed his first major bank. Hole in the floor Photo by Craig Sunter - Wikimedia. After being apprehended again, he was sentenced to 50 years imprisonment. 18 Biggest Bank Robbers and Robberies in American history Members of the Palestinian Liberation Organization decided to launch an attack on the British Bank of the Middle East. Stolen: $20 million - $50 million. Hamilton began his criminal career by robbing a gas station in Indiana, and being sentenced to a very long prison term of 25 years. Early in the afternoon a man entered the bank, took the staff he found there into the back, forced them to lie on the floor, and then stabbed them to death. He died at the age of 52 of throat cancer, and his body was found dumped outside his mother . He was gunned down in the so called Battle of Barrington, but not before taking FBI agents Herman Hollis and Samuel P Cowley with him. Sutton was an accomplished bank robber, although he never carried a loaded gun and never killed anybody throughout his criminal career. Jesse James is arguably Americas most famous thief and murderer, certainly the most famous of the western outlaws during the two decades which followed the American Civil War. He was famous for his likable personality and charm. ; Arrest the Culprit Green. The New York Times. Johnny D. Boggs, True West Magazine. The South Malabar Gramin Bank's Chelembra branch robbery was inspired by the Bollywood movie Dhoom. After linking up with the Dillinger gang, he participated in some other high profile bank robberies. In January 1958, three brothers brandishing toy pistols robbed the Bank of Columbia in Columbia, Alabama. From 1874 to 1921 it is estimated that Starr robbed over 21 banks, stealing $60,000 in cash. His numerous prison escapes also added to his legend. 9. A fresh take on sports: the biggest news and most entertaining lists. At this time, unemployment in the USA had risen to 25% and many more people were resorting to crime. 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. At the time of his death, he was 31 years old. Sam Bass 1851-1878. 300 million yen robbery. Online, The Boss: J. Edgar Hoover and the Great American Inquisition. The North Hollywood Bank of America Robbery. However, instead of returning to prison, he went on the run. After many successful bank robberies and kidnappings, Davis was captured and charged with kidnapping. For John Hamilton, robbing banks wasnt his first choice. Baby Face Nelson was a prominent member of John Dillingers gang who, along with Homer Van Meter, had a particular reputation for violence. 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. On Feb. 10, 1997, Bowman and Kirkpatrick robbed the Seafirst Bank of $4,461,681.00. 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. So many classic movies have been made with the premise of a bank robbery, many based on the jobs pulled from people on this list. Before they left, the Termites started a fire that set off the sprinkler system and flooded the building. 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. No one pulled off more armed robberies in New York since Mikhaylich started his holiday spree in 2009. Dillinger and his gang began a spree of bank robberies across Indiana, accumulating over $300,000 in total. The World's Most Entertaining Car Website, The Highest-Grossing Tracy Morgan Movies, Ranked, 8 Outrageous Ways Joel Osteen Spends His Massive $100 Million Fortune, The Spielberg Way: 10 Ways Steven Spielberg Earns & Spends His Billions, Counting Stars: Here's How One Republic's Ryan Tedder Made His $150 Million Fortune, The 8 Biggest Deals On Shark Tank Ever, Ranked, America's 10 Highest-Grossing Reality TV Shows Of All Time, A Peek Inside Jennifer Aniston's Stunning $15 Million Montecito Farmhouse, The 8 Most Expensive Photographs Ever Sold At Auctions, The 10 Greatest Billboard Hits Of Nicki Minaj, Ranked, A Look At How Jack Harlow Spends His $5 Million Fortune, The Richest Members Of The Gyllenhaal Family, Ranked, Lizzo Has Been Invited To Perform At James Madison's House In Virginia After She Played His Flute, Lawyer Reveals How Tom Brady & Giseles Prenup Affects Their Divorce, The 10 Most Expensive Purchases Of Kelly Clarkson, Ranked, Maroon 5 Lands Las Vegas Residency Amid Adam Levines Cheating Scandal, The Richest Kid In The World: Inside The Lavish Life Of Princess Charlotte Of Cambridge, All Of Khloe Kardashian's Boyfriends, Ranked By Net Worth, After Being Sued, Elon Musk Agrees (Again) To Buy Twitter For $44 Billion, Jake Paul Offers NBA Star Draymond Green For Boxing Match For $10 Million. 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. The 2005 Banco Central burglary in Fortaleza, Brazil, was once recognized by Guinness Book of World Records as the world's greatest bank robbery. Hamilton attended the liberation at Lima Jail but did not enter the building, instead serving as a lookout. The Great Buenos Aires Bank Heist | GQ It happened in Pennsylvania, in the Bank of Pennsylvania at Carpenters' Hall. As great of a criminal as Butch Cassidy was, there are still questions as to how he died. One difference of course is that he used a machine gun versus a bow and arrow. United California bank robbery. In Indiana, Van Meter robbed a police station with Dillinger. It was 1976 in Beirut. 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. Five days later they were arrested in Ohio. Eventually the F.B.I. 1. "She also pocketed a $100 bill for herself. On the afternoon of November 24, 1971, a nondescript man calling himself Dan Cooper approached the counter of Northwest Orient Airlines in Portland, Oregon. Most Famous Thieves in History: 1. Answer (1 of 2): Let the Countdown begin: 10. In fact, Dillinger was one of the first in his gang to be killed. The cab driver sets American Zed up with Zoe in his Paris hotel. 10 Things To Know About The North Hollywood Bank Robbery Shootout The escapees then travelled to Lima County jail to liberate Dillinger. Insane, huh? 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. September 25, 1992, The Norco Bank Robbery. 8. After the robbery, they went their separate ways and headed back to their homes. He would simply slide a piece of paper with the word ROBBERY on it to the teller. 13 of the world's most stupid criminals - BBC News He was convicted of bank robbery in Ohio and sentenced to 15 years in the infamous Ohio State Penitentiary in November of 1930 but escaped and continued his life of crime. 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. Two of them survived, as did a fourteen-month-old child, who was not shot because the robbers ammunition ran out. Karpis was raised in Kansas and began associating with criminals from an early age.