The ‘Empty Promise Bandit’ has robbed 3 Denver-area banks : NPR
FBI
The FBI’s Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force and local law enforcement are searching for a suspect who robbed at least three banks in the Denver metro Colorado area. They called him “The Robber of Empty Promises.”
The FBI’s Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force identified the suspect as a 5-foot-9-year-old Caucasian male, with a slim build and close-cropped light-colored hair. Photos of the suspect show him wearing a hat and sunglasses.
At least one of the robberies took place in August, FBI agent Vikki Migoya told NPR. Citing the sensitive nature of the ongoing investigation, the FBI declined to comment on the specific dates and locations of the robberies.
Migoya said the robber’s nickname came from his actions inside the bank.
“The robber put out the request notes, and in the request note he asserted that he would never be able to follow up,” she said. (The FBI won’t say exactly what those claims are.)
Anyone who has details about the robbery or is able to identify a suspect should contact the Metro Denver Crime Stop at 720-913-7867. Callers can remain anonymous and can earn up to $2,000 for their assistance.
The Empty Promise robber robbed several banks in the Denver area, including one attempted robbery. And although no weapons were found in any of his crimes, according to the FBI, the suspect prevented the use of weapons at least once.
Using or brandishing a weapon during a bank robbery raises the stakes for the perpetrator, according to Gannon University Associate Professor and former FBI agent Jerry Clark. He said bringing a gun or weapon into the mix would drag years into the perpetrator’s sentence.
Clark says overall bank robberies have fallen across the country, partly because cybercriminals have found ways to steal people’s money without even setting foot in a bank. Advances in surveillance technology are a deterrent to robbers.
Most thefts happen now Clark says it’s a crime of desperation, committed by individuals to fund drug and alcohol addicts, as well as those in financial difficulty.
A fraction of the bandits hope to gain popularity – or even do it for the thrill, he says.
“There are adrenaline junkies who are doing it because of the intense rush you get when you go into the bank and do it. They’re a lot less than the others, but they still exist,” Clark said.
But bank robbery comes with a hefty price tag, punishable by up to 20 years in prison for each federal crime, the FBI said.
“It’s very difficult for someone to go into a bank and trust that they won’t get caught,” Clark said. “…It’s always a bad ending.”