The Funniest Crime Story Ever
By Wyatt Earp | October 1, 2008
If you’re not laughing after reading this, then I’ll eat my hat!
Bank Robber Makes Getaway On Inner Tube
MONROE, Wash. — Police here say a man who robbed an armored car driver at a bank Tuesday morning jumped into the Skykomish River on an inner tube to get away.
Officers are searching the water and riverbank, and a Sheriff helicopter was circling the area, but so far there’s no sign of the man. Police spokeswoman Debbie Willis said the man robbed an armored car driver at the Bank of America branch at 19917 Old Owen Road about 11 a.m.
Mitch Ruth, who works across the street from the bank, said the robber sprayed the armored car driver with pepper spray and wrestled a bag of money away from the driver. The robber was wearing a surgical mask and wig, said Ruth, who tried to chase the man down but lost him in the woods.
“He was a lot faster than I was,” Ruth said.
Willis said an inner tube was recovered in the area. Investigators believe accomplices could have picked the robber up at a nearby boat launch or park. (H/T - KOMO)
Officials stated that they are searching for a male wearing a Speedo bathing suit with zinc oxide on his nose. The offender may also be dripping wet, so use caution when approaching: he may be very slippery.
October 2nd, 2008 at 2:47 am
I have images of a guy walking up to the guard with an inner tube around his waist. Aside from the felony, that was some amazing planning and timing.
Kudos to Ruth for giving chase. Not many bystanders would get involved in that kind of instance.
October 2nd, 2008 at 8:05 am
How fast is that river? Tubing is usually a real slow enterprise.
October 2nd, 2008 at 9:25 am
That is novel. I would have never conceived this type of escape, let alone that it would work.
October 2nd, 2008 at 10:47 am
You’d think the swim things on his arms would have given him away.