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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19 December 09

Give me the money now!
No! dye packs
1 min. Big bills first
nothing to lose.
U better hope I make it out!

male, 31, US Bank, St. Paul MN, $1824

** two-sided note

Comments
16 December 09

This is a Robery!
Don’t panic — stay calm
I am prepared to react at any deception.
Place as much money,
without bringing attention to yourself
out of the banking structure,
I want out of hear as soon as possible.
No tricks, no Dye packs,
and things will go smooth!
And it will be over soon,
again I am prepared!
And not playing.

male, 44, Umpqua Bank, Grants Pass OR, $1849

** caught 24 hours later, local resident

Comments
10 December 09

Don’t be stupid.
Do not press buttons.
No die packs or GPS
and you won’t get hurt;
$100, $50, $20, $10 
NOW!

male, 31, TD Banknorth, Bangor ME, $1200

** the final in the series - arrested in motel (in his home town) 3 days later

Comments
9 December 09

Don’t be stupid,
give me the money!
No die packs or GPS.
Do not push any buttons;
$100, $50, $20, $10 NOW!
You won’t get hurt
if you follow instructions!

male, 31, Webster Bank, Wethersfield CT, $3300

** second in a series of 3 - much more explicit than previous note - this was also robber’s home town (!)

Comments
8 December 09

Gimmey the money.
No die packs or GPS
and you won’t get hurt.
5 seconds.

male, 31, Dime Bank, New London CT, $3,131

** first in a series of 3 -  the remaining robberies show substantial note revisions

Comments
30 November 09

You have 15 seconds
to put at least $9,000 
in $100’s & $50’s in front of me.
Alarms, dye packs, bait money,
tracking devices, or follow me out,
will equal death.
My briefcase
will inflict a deadly wrath
on all of you in this bank
if you follow me.
Time starts now!

male, 29, Sun Trust Bank, Waynesboro VA, $727

** Wearing ‘dreadlock’ disguise. Caught 34 hours later.

Comments
26 November 09

Please place all the money
on the counter.
No (dye) packs or tricks.
I am armed.
Thank you!
I’m sorry!

male, 40, Commerce Bank, Wichita KS, “The Apologetic Robber”

** turned himself in after surveillance photo released

Comments
6 November 09

give all the money
and no dye packs.

male, 20s, RBC Centura Bank, Clayton County GA, 11a

Comments
31 October 09

I have two pipe bombs in the bag.
Pass all the cash quickly.
No dye packs.

male, 49, Apple Bank, Flushing NY $1085

Comments
28 October 09

$5,000 in 20s and 50s.
No dye packs,
no alarms,
no one gets hurt.

male, 30s, Capital One, Brooklyn NY 2:45p

Comments
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