TidbitsMOV Issue #1309 Bad Bank Robbers by Tidbits MOV

The Neatest Little Paper Ever Read

TIDBITS® POINTS AND LAUGHS AT BAD BANK ROBBERS

by Janet Spencer

Bank robbers fall into one of two categories: 1) Those who prepare carefully and at length for the heist, and 2) Those who do it spontaneously at the spur of the moment because they need the money. Come along with Tidbits as we consider some bad bank robbers of both types!

BUNGLED BURGLARIES

• One of the biggest robberies in U.S. history was pulled off by six guys in Los Angeles in 1997. The mastermind was Allen Pace, who had been hired as a safety inspector by the Dunbar Armored Truck Company. Because of his job, he knew all the weak spots, including when the security cameras would be pointing in which direction, and when the vaults would be unlocked and untended. He collected a group of his five closest friends. Together they loaded $18.9 million into a rented U-Haul and got away with the heist.

• However, in a fit of generosity, one of the men loaned some money to a friend of his. Unfortunately for the bank robbers, he neglected to remove the identification straps around the bundle of cash before handing it over to his buddy. His buddy, having seen the news reports, squealed. All six men were caught, and Allen Pace was sentenced to 24 years in prison. (

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BAD BANK ROBBERS (cont)

• What might have been the first bank robbery in the U.S. happened in 1798, when Isaac Davis and a friend broke into Philadelphia’s Carpenters Hall Bank at night and walked out with $162,000 ($3 million today). Davis’s accomplice died of yellow fever shortly afterward; an innocent man was arrested, and Davis had no idea what to do with all that cash. Eventually, he decided to deposit the money somewhere safe: the bank. He returned to the same bank he had robbed. Without a good cover story concerning where the money came from, Davis became Suspect #1. Ultimately, the Governor of Pennsylvania offered him a pardon if he would return the money. He did, and was granted his freedom.

• On September 5, 2007, 27-year-old Forest Kelly Bissonnette decided to rob the Bank of the West in Englewood, Colorado, by giving the bank teller a note saying, “Give me all the money in your drawer. Now.” The paper he wrote the note on was his own bank check, with his own name and account number on it. He had scribbled over them, but they were still legible. He escaped with $5000. The FBI quickly put out a warrant for his arrest. He boasted about his feat to a friend, who called the tip line. He eventually surrendered to the police.

• In Houston, Texas, on March 23, 2011, two armed masked men walked into a Houston bank, brandished their guns in front of the only two tellers on site, and demanded cash. The terrified tellers handed over $62,000. The cops had no leads on the case until a few days later, when one of the two tellers posted on her Facebook page “IM RICH” while her boyfriend simultaneously posted “Wiping my teeth with hundreds!” The two tellers, a boyfriend, and a brother were quickly arrested. (cont)

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BAD BANK ROBBERS (cont)

• It’s common for people to call ahead to order food to be ready for pick-up, and that’s the tactic Albert Bailey used when he tried to rob a Fairfield, CT bank in 2010. The police received a call from a bank employee saying they had just gotten a phone call from a man who said: “I want $100,000 in large bills and no dye packs. I will be sending someone into the bank to get the money. Don’t call the police, we are monitoring the police scanner. We are not afraid to take hostages and to turn the place into a blood bath. Do you understand?” Before tellers could lock the doors, Bailey’s 16-year-old cousin rushed inside the bank to pick up the money. As the teen placed a briefcase on the counter, Bailey called the bank again to say “his associate” was ready to receive the package he had ordered. Tellers gave the youth about $900 in cash, and the boy walked out of the bank and directly to where Albert Bailey was parked. As Bailey pulled out of his parking spot, he ran into the cops arriving on the scene. Bailey had just recently been released after serving a 7-year term for robbing another bank.

• Daniel Rahynes walked into the Metro Bank in Harrisburg, PA, in March of 2011. He approached the teller and said he was interested in opening an account. The teller asked him for two forms of ID, which Rahynes dutifully handed over. As the teller took down his information and filled out a form, Rahynes suddenly announced that he was actually there to rob the bank. The teller handed over some cash, and Rahynes fled, leaving his application and ID behind. After jumping into his get-away car, he ran into a vehicle, and then rammed another car a bit later on. Police, guided by his ID, arrested him at his home later the same day and charged him not only with bank robbery but also DUI. (cont)

BAD BANK ROBBERS (cont)

• In January of 1995, Macarthur Wheeler and Clifton Johnson hatched a plan that was so ridiculously stupid that it sparked a wellknown psychological study on what makes stupid people think they are smart. Wheeler and Johnson knew that if you write a secret message using lemon juice, the writing becomes invisible. Wheeler was convinced that lemon juice would make things invisible to security cameras, and he convinced Clifton that this was true.

• They both rubbed lemon juice on their faces, then robbed two Pittsburgh banks without benefit of disguise. Their pictures were shown on area news outlets, and both were in custody in short order. Wheeler exclaimed as he was arrested, “But I wore the juice!”

• David Dunning was a professor of psychology when he read about this bank robbery. He theorized, “If Wheeler was too stupid to be a bank robber, perhaps he was also too stupid to know that he was too stupid to be a bank robber.” He teamed up with his graduate student Justin Kruger, and they completed a research program to find out if someone’s perceived competence could be measured against their actual competence.

• Their paper, released in 1999, was entitled “Unskilled and Unaware of It.” It concluded that incompetent people tend to reach erroneous conclusions and make unfortunate decisions, all while their incompetence robs them of their ability to recognize their own incompetence. This theory became known as the Dunning-Kruger effect, which states, in short, that the most inept people tend to be the most confident in their brilliance.

• Similarly, the opposite effect is true for highly intelligent people, who tend to underestimate their skills and abilities.

BudgetFriendly Black Bean Burgers That Don't Disappoint

Let's be honest. When someone says, "black bean burger," your first thought probably isn't "Ooh, yes please!" More like, "Will it taste like sadness and regret on a bun?" But hold up these aren't those dry, flavorless hockey pucks pretending to be burgers. They're scrumptious, savory and genuinely satisfying. Packed with flavor and best of all they're not trying to be beef. They're proudly plant-based and delicious on their own terms.

So, why should they land on your plate?

First, they're budget-friendly. Two cans of black beans can easily feed a family of four for just a few bucks no fancy ingredients needed.

Second, they're incredibly healthy. Black beans are loaded with protein, fiber, iron and magnesium. They help lower cholesterol, support digestion and keep you full. Mixed with veggies, whole grains and spices, these burgers deliver big nutrition and bold flavor.

And third, people light up when they see a burger. Serve something healthy in that familiar shape, and you've got a dinner win.

Now for the magic trick. What's the secret to a black bean burger that doesn't fall apart? Bake the beans first. Drying them out intensifies flavor and adds structure. Most folks skip this step and end up with mush. Don't skip it. It's the difference between "meh" and "more please!"

BLACK BEAN BURGERS

Yield: 6-8 servings

Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes

2 (14 oz) cans black beans, drained,

rinsed and patted dry

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 cup bell pepper, finely chopped

1 cup yellow onion, finely chopped

1 tablespoon garlic, minced

2 teaspoons ground cumin

1 teaspoon chili powder

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 cup breadcrumbs

1/2 cup shredded pepper jack (or cheddar)

2 large eggs

1 tablespoon coconut aminos (or Worcestershire sauce)

2 tablespoons mayonnaise

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

Hamburger buns and favorite accompaniments

Optional but highly recommended: Sliced pepper jack cheese

Zesty Lime-Dijon Spread (below)

Preheat oven to 325 F. Spread beans on a parchment- or foil-lined baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes to dry them slightly.

Meanwhile, heat a skillet over medium heat. Saute olive oil, bell pepper, onion and garlic until soft, 5-6 minutes. Let cool, then blot moisture.

In a food processor, combine veggies with spices, breadcrumbs, cheese, eggs, coconut aminos, mayo, salt and pepper. Mix or pulse. Add beans and mash or pulse, leaving some texture.

Note: This mixture is sticky chilling helps! Refrigerate for 30 minutes before shaping. To keep hands clean, oil or wet them slightly. Use wax paper to separate patties and prevent sticking. Form mixture into 12 patties using a generous 1/3 cup each.

To bake: Place on greased, foil-lined sheet and bake at 375 F for 6 minutes per side. Add cheese for the last 3 minutes.

To grill: Use greased foil, cook over medium-high for 7 to 8 minutes per side. Add cheese for the last 3 minutes. Serve on toasted buns with classic toppings like lettuce, tomato and onion or make it your own.

And to top it all off, don't skip the sauce. Every single taste tester asked for this recipe. Creamy, tangy and just the right touch of sweet, it's the perfect match for these black bean beauties.

ZESTY LIME-DIJON SPREAD

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

1 tablespoon lime juice

Pinch of sugar

Whisk together and chill until serving. It's excellent on burgers, wraps or sandwiches.

These black bean burgers are everything a good dinner should be affordable, nourishing and completely delicious. A little messy? Sure. But absolutely worth it. ***

Lifestyle expert Patti Diamond is the pennypinching, party-planning, recipe developer and content creator of the website Divas On A Dime Where Frugal, Meets Fabulous! Visit Patti at www.divasonadime.com and join the conversation on Facebook at DivasOnADimeDotCom. Email Patti at divapatti@divasonadime.com (c) 2025 King Features Synd., Inc. Proof that frugal and fabulous can exist on the same bun.

Sports Stories DAN & DAVE

• In 1992, Reebok was losing ground to Nike and needed to revive sales. The Olympics were coming up in Barcelona that year. Reebok’s idea resulted in thousands spent on an ad campaign that pitted two likely champions against each other. This became known as the “Dan and Dave” campaign. Little did Reebok suspect how badly it would fail; little did Dan and Dave realize they would participate in an ad campaign of epic proportions resulting in a flop.

• Dan O’Brien had a troubled youth growing up in Missoula, Montana, but excelled at sports when he got into college in Oregon. In 1990 he won the gold medal at the Goodwill Games. Over the next two years, he was identified as a strong potential candidate for the decathlon at the 1992 Olympics. He began to pick up endorsements, but the offer from Reebok blew his mind.

• Dave Johnson also excelled in athletics in college. By 1991, he was the world decathlon champion, having won all eight decathlons he entered. This made him the favorite to win Olympic gold. He also received an endorsement proposal from Reebok.

• The two athletes shared a friendly relationship. The “Dan vs Dave” angle of their competition fit perfectly into Reebok’s plan to launch an eight-month worldwide marketing campaign which would culminate at the Olympics in Barcelona.

• For months preceding the Olympics, Reebok’s ads pitted the two athletes “against” each other. The ad campaign played out in print and in broadcast media worldwide. Each advertisement used home movies of both Dan and Dave while they grew from toddlers to kids to teens to adults. Continued page #7)

DAN AND DAVE (cont)

• The first ad showed a clip of Dan as a little boy taking a bath, then a clip of Dave as a toddler in a high chair while a dramatic voice -over intoned words to the effect of “WHICH OF THESE TITANS WILL WIN IN BARCELONA?” The next ad featured Dan riding a stick pony in his yard, cutting to Dave pedaling his bike. “WHO WILL TAKE TOP HONORS?” Dan in a Little League uniform; Dave on vacation: “WHO WILL BE CROWNED KING IN BARCELONA?” The ads attracted enormous attention

• In the lead-up to the Olympics, Dan was better in the 100 meters, long jump, shot put, high jump, and 400 meters. Dave was strongest in the 100-meter hurdles, discus, pole vault, javelin, and 1,500 meters.

• Then came the Olympic trials. Dan O’Brien failed all three attempts at the pole vault, leaving him unqualified to compete in the Olympics. Reebok’s ad campaign instantly fell flat. There would be no battle for the title of the world’s greatest athlete. Reebok issued a new ad showing Dan rooting for Dave to win in the Olympics. But at the Olympics, Dave struggled with a fractured foot. He won a single bronze medal, but no gold.

• Dan O’Brien won gold four years later at the 1996 Olympics. Later, he moved to Phoenix, opened a health club, and wrote a book “Clearing Hurdles: The Quest to be the World’s Greatest Athlete.”

• Dave Johnson became athletic director at an Oregon college. He also penned his memoir, “Aim High: An Olympic Decathlete’s Inspiring Story.” After the Reebok ad campaign ended and the Olympics were over, he remarked, “We were supposed to be on Johnny Carson. Instead, we ended up on Arsenio Hall.”

On road trips, pet safety, comfort are premiums

DEAR PAW'S CORNER: My girlfriend and I are traveling across the country to a relative's wedding in about six weeks. We decided to make it a road trip so that we can bring along our two small dogs, "Jeannie" and "Peppy." Jeannie loves traveling by car, but Peppy gets anxious even on short trips. What's your advice for keeping him calm? Will hotels allow the dogs in? Carol and Ginny in Philadelphia DEAR CAROL & GINNY: A road trip with a dog can be one of the most rewarding experiences you'll ever have. But planning ahead of time for your dog's comfort and safety is really important.

Collaborate with the veterinarian as you prepare they can recommend specific training, calm-down techniques and prescribe antianxiety medication as well. Desensitization and counterconditioning may help. It takes consistent daily training, and could take longer than you have before the upcoming trip. Start outside the car with Peppy on a leash. The moment he shows stressed behaviors (yawning, lip licking, barking, pulling away) pause or back away until he relaxes again. Then, using lots of praise, move toward the car. Ideally, you'll get closer each session until you finally climb into the back seat with Peppy and sit together for a short period. Here's a link with more details on this training method: www.preventivevet.com/dogs/preventingtravel-anxiety-and-carsickness-in-dogs Meantime, plan your driving route. The major booking apps now have a "pet-friendly" filter setting so you can locate accommodating hotels and reserve rooms. You'll also want to mark rest stops along the highways and set a timer (every two hours or so) to stop and stretch.

Lastly, make sure to include the dogs' medications, food, toys, leashes and medical records in your packing list, and have them wear their collars with vaccination tag and ID tag in case you're separated.

Professional Business Accounting

* Honey has amazing properties, and one of them is its antiseptic powers. You can use it on pimples, even. Just a tiny dab will help keep bacteria responsible for breakouts from taking over.

* Here's a workout tip: Rotate among a few pairs of running shoes to get the best life out of them. Rotating gives them a chance to dry out between wearings, and runners who practice this have a 39% lower chance of injury, according to a Luxembourg research firm.

the cut side to keep them from browning. It's also great for salad greens."

T.T. in New Jersey

* "The liners from cereal boxes work really well to store pies in the freezer. They can be stapled shut."

Y.L. in Indiana

* "Polish wall tiles in the bathroom using car wax. They will repel water really well. Just be sure that you cover the floor before you apply any wax. You do not want to polish your tub, as that is a safety hazard for sure!" M.W. in Missouri

* Got poison ivy? The maddening itch might find relief from coffee grounds or a cooled cuppa. It contains antiinflammatories.

* "Lemon juice can bring out the flavor of mushrooms. I keep a little spray bottle that I found in the travel section of the drugstore to keep lemon juice accessible in the kitchen. I find it's good for all kinds of things, like avocadoes and apples. I spray