A would-be bank robber’s plan of escape was ironically foiled after the suspect’s getaway bicycle was nabbed by another unrelated thief.
The amateur bank robber tried to get away after the attempted heist went south, only to find his bike had been stolen by another delinquent, Hamilton Police said in a news release.
The unidentified suspect, dressed in a long, multi-colored scarf, sunglasses, a surgical mask and a black jacket, cycled up to the BMO Bank in Hamilton, Ontario around 12:30 pm on December 18.
Leaving his bike parked outside, the masked man entered the bank, approached the teller and ‘passed a note demanding cash,’ before verbally threatening the employee, suggesting he was carrying a weapon, police said.
The man was then confronted by other employees before fleeing, empty-handed.
However, when he returned to the location of his two-wheeled chariot he shockingly discovered the bike had vanished.
‘Upon exiting BMO bank, the suspect returned to his bicycle location only to discover a fellow delinquent had stolen his bike,’ the release said.
The unidentified suspect, dressed in a long, multi-colored scarf, sunglasses, a surgical mask, and a black jacket, cycled up to the BMO Bank in Hamilton, Ontario around 12:30 pm on December 18
Leaving his bike parked outside, the masked man entered the bank (pictured), approached the teller and ‘passed a note demanding cash,’ before verbally threatening the employee, suggesting he was carrying a weapon
With no other choice, the ‘dazed and confused’ almost-robber kicked his legs in high gear and escaped on foot.
‘The suspect was last seen near Upper Paradise Road and Elmwood Avenue,’ police said.
Authorities were able to obtain photos of the failed bank robber and bike thief using nearby security cameras.
The bank robbery suspect is described as a white man standing between five-feet-four and five-feet-eight inches tall.
The bike thief, who also remains at large, is described only as a male in dark clothes.
Hamilton Police said they’re investigating and are now looking for both suspects.
The man was then confronted by other employees before fleeing, empty-handed. However, when he returned to the location of his two-wheeled chariot he shockingly discovered the bike had vanished
Authorities were able to obtain photos of the failed bank robber and bike thief using nearby security cameras, the bike thief, who also remains at large, is described only as a male in dark clothes
Vehicle theft is on the rise in Canada, as earlier this year, residents in Toronto attempted to curb the out-of-control crime by hiding their cars in secret locations and hideouts with round-the-clock security.
The revelation, reported by The New York Times, followed a federal liberal announcement at a national summit aimed at addressing the nationwide issue.
The publication spoke to collectors who have taken to storing luxury cars in compounds with hired guards and dogs at night, only to still have them burglarized.
The cars are typically stolen and shipped abroad, experts at this month’s conference said.
An investigation in 2022 tracked a stolen car from Ottawa to a lot in Nigeria.
Some have blamed the uptick on the government’s mandating of immobilizers in vehicles, as burglars have taken to using devices that trick the anti-theft technology into thinking the robber has a key.
Others have cited lax laws from Justin Trudeau, who in turn has blamed the previous Conservative government.
Meanwhile, an estimated 90,000 cars are stolen each year and car theft is up 150 percent over six years in Canada‘s largest city, Toronto.
Despite residents taking great pains in protecting their vehicles, auto thefts are up across the board in Canada’s provinces – 50 percent in Quebec, 48 percent in Ontario, 34 percent in Atlantic Canada, and 18 percent in Alberta – costing residents about $1.2 billion a year.