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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20 September 11

I want the money put in it
Put the money in the envelope.
I want as much as you have.

male, 21, Hancock Bank, Destin FL, 4:49p

** ID’d as employee of nearby hotel

Tags: baseball cap
Comments
17 September 11

I want all the money
lose bills

male, 20s, TDBank, Scotch Plains NJ, $5700

Comments
16 September 11

this is a robbery
give me the money
and I won’t hurt you

male, 40s, Hudson City Bank, Garfield NJ, $2000

** written on Post-It note

Comments
13 September 11

Give me all the money or everybody dies!!!
$100s $50s $20s only

male, 23, Capital One Bank, Brooklyn NY, $1850

** serial bandit maintained an explicit facebook page which led to his arrest

Comments
12 September 11

My partner is in the parking lot
with a police radio.
If you hit the alarm, he will know
and start shooting.
I am armed as well.

You have 30 seconds
to give me $100,000 in $100 bills.

You can call the cops
five minutes after I leave.
If you call before then
my partner will know
and start shooting.
Give me this note back.
Your time starts now.


male, 29, U.S. Bank (inside Albertson’s), Marysville WA, 5:30p

** arrested 2 weeks later; ID’d by thumbprint off of note

Comments
10 September 11

Gun, no $1.00!!!
Money both drawers!!!
No alarm!!! No tracer!!!
No dye!!!

male, 30s, Wells Fargo Bank, Scottsdale AZ, “Black Binder Bandit”

** serial bandit struck 12 Arizona banks prior to arrest; carried a binder during robberies; “I had to drink a lot to have the bravery,” said the bandit

Comments
9 September 11

Hand over $4,000 in $50 bills
and no die packs
I don’t want to kill you but I will

male, 33, Bank of Nova Scotia, Penticton BC, $1800

** serial bandit arrested at local motel after subsequent robberies

Comments
7 September 11

Give me all your money
and don’t dare give me a dye pack

male, 32, Sovereign Bank, Boston MA, $1000

** arrested 3 days later on anonymous tip

Comments
6 September 11

100s, 50s, and 20s,
no di packs, don’t make a noise

male, 32, Sovereign Bank, Boston MA, 2:55p

** suspect robbed another bank an hour later; arrested on anonymous tip

Comments
5 September 11

$100 bills
I have a bomb

male, 40s, Bank of America, Venice CA, 11:47a, “The Tourist Bandit”

Comments
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