About

Robbing a bank is as simple as putting pen to paper. Here are actual demand notes used in successful and unsuccessful unarmed bank robberies - - accompanied by a photo of each robber and appended with details about the robbery itself.

= a successful robbery

= an unsuccessful robbery


Compiled by Ken Habarta

The Book

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Do It Yourself

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31 August 10

Stay calm,
put all the money in the bag
and no one will get hurt.

males, 42 and 54, Key Bank, Taylorsville NV, 3:30p

** dye pack exploded in car, traced back to their hotel

Comments
18 February 10

I have a gun in my purse,
don’t scream or panic
and everything will be okay

female, 25, Scotiabank, Calgary CA, 2:45p

Comments
9 February 10

Don’t panic, put money into bag.

male, 49, Our Community Credit Union, Elma WA, $6700

** identified by surveillance image, caught 5 days later

Comments
3 February 10

Give me the money.

male, 57, Liberty Bank, East Lyme CT, 2:22p

** dye packs given to bandit; arrested two days later.

Tags: bag money
Comments
20 January 10

I have a child with cancer.
Put all large bills in the bag.
I have a gun.

male, 32, Minnequa Credit Union, Pueblo CO, 5p, $2300

** Placed bag of change on the counter to ‘convert to cash’ - then passed note. 
Arrested 2 days later; police traced license plate on getaway car.

Comments
12 January 10

I don’t want to hurt anyone,
just put the money in the bag

male, 42, Bancorp, Litchfield CT, 2:00p

** Arrested the next day. Robber made 911 call minutes before as diversion.
Call was traced.

Comments
31 December 09

Don’t say a word,
put the money in the bag.

male, 22, Bank of Elk River, Elk River MN, $4089

** caught on getaway mountain bike a few blocks from bank;
disguise included ace bandage and sunglasses

Comments
30 December 09

This is a robbery.
Give me all of your money.
This is not a joke.
I have a gun in the bag.

male, 20s, Chase Bank, Skokie IL, $1000

Comments
28 December 09

This is a robbery.
My partners are at the front
and back entrances looking for runners.
Fill a bag with what’s in the register.
You have one minute.
Don’t hit the panic button
or you will be in for a painful experience.

male, 29, Arvest Bank, Fayetteville AR, 3:30p

** attempted robbery via drive-thru, shot and killed by police in his car

Comments
14 December 09

This is a robbery
I’m armed

male, 50, Carolina First Bank, Greenville SC, 11:20a

** arrested 2 mos and 4 robberies later

Comments
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