Darth Vader Robs Bank
Lately bank robbers have been using more creative disguises than just a wig and glasses. In this story, Darth Vader needs cash.
Suffolk County Police Major Case detectives are investigating the robbery of a Chase bank branch in Setauket by a man wearing a Darth Vader mask and a cape. A man entered the bank, located at 4080 Route 347, at 11:30 a.m. today, displayed a gun and demanded cash. The teller complied with the robbers demands and gave him money from the drawer. The man fled eastbound through the parking lot. The man is between 6 feet and 6 feet 2 inches tall. He was wearing a Darth Vader mask, a blue cape and camouflage pants.
Suffolk County Police Major Case detectives are investigating the robbery of a Chase bank branch in Setauket by a man wearing a Darth Vader mask and a cape. A man entered the bank, located at 4080 Route 347, at 11:30 a.m. today, displayed a gun and demanded cash. The teller complied with the robbers demands and gave him money from the drawer. The man fled eastbound through the parking lot. The man is between 6 feet and 6 feet 2 inches tall. He was wearing a Darth Vader mask, a blue cape and camouflage pants.
Man wearing Darth Vader mask and cape robs Long Island bank with gun, shoves customer to floor
BY John Lauinger | DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER | www.nydailynews.com | July 23rd 2010
A lot of robbers use force. This one used the Force.
A bandit decked out in a Darth Vader costume strolled into a Long Island bank on Thursday – and walked out with a wad of cash.
The villain looked ready for Halloween, wearing the “Star Wars” scoundrel’s signature mask and sweeping black cape.
He lost some authenticity points for a pair of camouflage pants.
The getup struck one customer as so funny that he started joshing with the Darth Robber after he strode into the Chase bank in Setauket.
“The customer thought it might have been a joke, and not a serious attempt at a robbery,” said Suffolk County police Detective Sgt. William Lamb.
But Darth wasn’t kidding – and he wasn’t going to be stopped by a non-Jedi Knight.
He won a “shoving match” against the incredulous customer before using his piece to order him to the floor, Lamb said
And his weapon was no joke. He was carrying a pistol instead of a lightsaber.
Cops released a surveillance camera image yesterday showing Darth at the teller counter, loading bills into a bag, while the customer cowers on the floor.
The fake Darth made a quick-footed getaway, and the bank was still checking its drawers late yesterday to figure out how large his take was, Lamb said.
It was the second recent off-the-wall bank robbery. On Wednesday, NYPD cops arrested a man dubbed the “Bouquet Bandit,” saying he brought flowers and potted plants into banks he robbed.
jlauinger@nydailynews.com