auxilary Posted October 1, 2008 Share Posted October 1, 2008 MONROE, Wash. - A brazen bank robbery suspect maced the guard of an armored truck before making his escape in an inner tube on the Skykomish River. But he had placed a Craigslist ad as a diversion and people used to pull off the crime didn't even know they were part of it until it was too late. "He was wearing a dust mask, a particle mask. At first I thought it might be a surgical mask. I still didn't think anything was wrong, just unusual. Then I noticed he had a pump sprayer," said Mitch Ruth, who had looked out his office window and noticed the man walking into the Bank of America at about 11 a.m. on Tuesday. The robber, who carried the bag of money as he raced out of the bank, sprayed the guard and ran about 100 yards to the creek that runs into the Skykomish River, shedding clothes as he ran. One witness said the swam away, but another said he used an inner tube to get away. "We did get an inner tube that was about 200 yards from the place where he entered the water and took that for evidence," said Debbie Willis, Monroe Police. Investigators believe accomplices could have picked the robber up at a nearby boat launch or park. But apparently, the robber had planned ahead. In case anyone was hot on his trail, he had at least a dozen unsuspecting decoys waiting nearby. "I came across the ad that was for a prevailing wage job for $28.50 an hour," said Mike, who saw a Craigslist ad last week looking for workers for a road maintenance project in Monroe. He said he inquired and was e-mailed back with instructions to meet near the Bank of America in Monroe at 11 a.m. Tuesday. He also was told to wear certain work clothing. "Yellow vest, safety goggles, a respirator mask… and, if possible, a blue shirt," he said. Mike showed up along with about a dozen other men dressed like him, but there was no contractor and no road work to be done. He thought they had been stood up until he heard about the bank robbery and the suspect who wore the same attire. Police say they now have the Craigslist information and they are trying to piece it all together to find the suspect. The suspect is described as a white man in his 20s, between 5-foot-7 and 5-foot-10, wearing a dark blue shirt, jean shorts and a mask. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Globerunner513 Posted October 1, 2008 Share Posted October 1, 2008 Holy crap. Reminds me of the movie 'inside man' As much as I despise people who try do pull off those sorts of things, I can't help but root for him a little bit. I do give him credit for not using anything that could potentially harm anyone during his heist. Pretty clever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrumpetRhapsody Posted October 1, 2008 Share Posted October 1, 2008 I do give him credit for not using anything that could potentially harm anyone during his heist. Depends on what he sprayed that guy with... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoNkEyT88 Posted October 1, 2008 Share Posted October 1, 2008 Wow, a lot smarter than a guy around here who dressed up like a tree branch. Well, except for every ones description of him. "Wtf, he was a tree branch." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Globerunner513 Posted October 1, 2008 Share Posted October 1, 2008 Depends on what he sprayed that guy with... i thought it said he maced him... but either way you have a good point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete84 Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 A few years ago, a bank in my area was broken into, with the robbers going in through the roof. Hasn't been solved yet. Guess several Hollywood stunt and special effects guys were short on cash waiting for the next Mission Impossible film Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Netrix Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 Hah like in the Thomas Crown Affair Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kennysgreen280zt Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 Yeah, couldnt deposit my paycheck after that.... seriously. I couldnt believe it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.