Anyone remember this guy? Robbed banks for 50 years without being caught. Never went to the vault, always stuck to the cash drawers. He did wave his gun, but never even screamed at a teller. He never shot anyone, and never even hurt anyone. He was so calm cool and collected, a true professional. He even had a heart. Fell in love with a girl with disabilities and when he saw that she was in harms way, he sent her home and pleaded with the law to show mercy on her. The only thing that got him caught, is he got sloppy. Otherwise he might still be at large. Yes . . . Charles Warren Boomer, was a bad guy, but only do to the fact that he was robbing banks. But there was also a man with a heart there too.

Anyone remember this guy? Robbed banks for 50 years without being caught. Never went to the vault, always stuck to the cash drawers. He did wave his gun, but never even screamed at a teller. He never shot anyone, and never even hurt anyone. He was so calm cool and collected, a true professional. He even had a heart. Fell in love with a girl with disabilities and when he saw that she was in harms way, he sent her home and pleaded with the law to show mercy on her. The only thing that got him caught, is he got sloppy. Otherwise he might still be at large. Yes . . . Charles Warren Boomer, was a bad guy, but only do to the fact that he was robbing banks. But there was also a man with a heart there too.

I've been looking for information about him in recent years, but I haven't been able to find a thing. In the UM update when he was caught, Robert Stack mentioned that he faced the possibility of life in prison, so that's probably where he is. It's also possible that, as he would be 80-90 years old now, he could be dead. I do agree with your sentiment that, although he shouldn't be forgiven for robbing banks, he did seem to be compassionate and likeable in other ways.

Hello. Charles Warren Boomer is my uncle. He was convicted of 33 counts of bank robbery. And sentenced to 45 years in prison. He was paroled in 2012 at the age of 74. He now lives a quiet life with his wife Rachel. She waited 20 years for him. He was in and out of prison his whole life for bank robberies. Yes he is a very kind caring man that just never had the desire to work for a living. He never hurt or threatened anyone during the robberies.
Thank You for your comment Flying Dutchman. And I hope that answers your question Mcbevis.

Hello. Charles Warren Boomer is my uncle. He was convicted of 33 counts of bank robbery. And sentenced to 45 years in prison. He was paroled in 2012 at the age of 74. He now lives a quiet life with his wife Rachel. She waited 20 years for him. He was in and out of prison his whole life for bank robberies. Yes he is a very kind caring man that just never had the desire to work for a living. He never hurt or threatened anyone during the robberies.
Thank You for your comment Flying Dutchman. And I hope that answers your question Mcbevis.

Thanks for posting. I wondered what had become of him over the years, and it's always interesting to hear something from someone that knows someone personally, because there are things that you would know that the average person wouldn't, and again, even though he was a criminal who certainly deserved to spend some time in prison, I always felt a certain amount of empathy towards him because he did seem like a good guy in most other ways, and I'm glad to hear that he's at least living a better life now. I just hope he doesn't ever do anything again to compromise it.

Hello. Charles Warren Boomer is my uncle.

Thanks for posting here.

Did your uncle ever talk about being on Unsolved Mysteries? Being on that show is more than just being on the local news. It makes anyone on the show look like a rock star.

Well ScaryFog I never had the chance to talk with him at that time. And he hasn't talked about it since he's been out. I remember sitting at home with my wife and kids when my Mom called and said "turn on the T.V" It was her brother (my uncle Warren) on unsolved mystery's. I only remember meeting him once when I was growing up. He was on parole in the early 70's. Went right back in after committing another robbery.
He was also one of the 12 that broke out of Millhaven Penitentiary in 1973.
A song by the "Tragically Hip" "38 Years Old"
No he is not a Rock star. Wasted most of his life in prison. A loving man that could have been so much more.

I always thought Boomer never got caught. I was wrong and I apoligize. And thank you franics for that info

Well ScaryFog I never had the chance to talk with him at that time. And he hasn't talked about it since he's been out. I remember sitting at home with my wife and kids when my Mom called and said "turn on the T.V" It was her brother (my uncle Warren) on unsolved mystery's. I only remember meeting him once when I was growing up. He was on parole in the early 70's. Went right back in after committing another robbery.
He was also one of the 12 that broke out of Millhaven Penitentiary in 1973.
A song by the "Tragically Hip" "38 Years Old"
No he is not a Rock star. Wasted most of his life in prison. A loving man that could have been so much more.
I met Charles twice and wrote a criminology paper on him in University. He had me in stitches as he recalled some stories like when he got a ticket for riding his bike on the wrong side of the road and actually paid it at City Hall so it would draw less attention. I guess the police officer didn't recognize him or realize he was at large at the time. I wrote on a few occasions but only one reply ever came back. I believe they withheld my mail to him unfortunately. I really liked him and could tell he had a heart regardless if people want to refer to him as a 'bad guy'. Give me a break. He was a bank robber not a rapist or murderer, remember that. He did more time than most convicts that do far worse crimes. Pretty sad when you think that a man can randomly kill a stranger, receive second degree and do less time than a man that just steals money. If I knew where he lived, I'd invite him over for dinner.

I really liked him and could tell he had a heart regardless if people want to refer to him as a 'bad guy'. Give me a break. He was a bank robber not a rapist or murderer, remember that. He did more time than most convicts that do far worse crimes. Pretty sad when you think that a man can randomly kill a stranger, receive second degree and do less time than a man that just steals money. If I knew where he lived, I'd invite him over for dinner.

Keep in mind, he impacted those people that worked at those banks in a negative way when he robbed them. They did not know before hand that he would not harm them physically.

I worked with Charlie in Ottawa where he lived with Rachel. He was trying to write a book about his life. Make some real money. He had pretty good job. I asked what he’d do if the book didn’t work out. “Oh...rob a bank. “. I believed him. He talked a bit about his girl and he obviously loved her a lot.
Charlie said he liked me so he was going to tell me something I should remember. “Life is a mother ****er!! You know I never hurt anyone. I never pistol whipped anybody nothing. 15 years was my first sentence 15 years. You know in most places today I could shoot someone and get 8 years served. Always remember life is a mother ****er. All this he said with no real anger and a half a smile.
I enjoyed our talks and I gave him a ride home a couple times and really liked the guy. I’ve thought him often and told many people over the years about him and about his love for that woman. What a pair. I hope his remaining years are happy ones. “That money’s insured anyway ha ha ha”

I worked with someone who claimed to be Charlie Boomer.

I started working in April 1989 at a relatively small Office Furniture Installation/Moving Company out of Carp Ontario, just off Highway 417.

There was an individual, who apparently had not been working there long very long himself, who indicated he was Charlie Boomer the Bank Robber and he also called himself Canada's Most Prolific Prison Escapee.

I was only there a few weeks, before he suddenly stopped showing up for work and it was soon after that, the Owner indicated he was being inundated with calls regarding Charlie whereabouts.

30 some years later, I wonder if it was actually Charlie Boomer or some imposter.

Keep in mind, he impacted those people that worked at those banks in a negative way when he robbed them. They did not know before hand that he would not harm them physically.

Very true, people often forget even though he did not kill anyone the workers in the banks most likely deal with PTSD for the rest of their lives. It can really impact someone. This fact can not be ignored or we can not just shrug off a criminal because they were harmless. Not really, a gun pointed at you is still a gun pointed at you. I am glad he is reformed now, but do not sympathize with him because he was a man who did not want to have a job. If everyone lived there life like this we would be in trouble. This does not make him have any endearing qualities. Criminals sometimes are progressive, the more banks he robbed who knows if one day he would of hurt or killed someone. I think prison is a good way for someone to think about their crimes and make society safer. Hey now he is out in his 70's maybe early eighties and no longer a threat. All actions have consequences.

I'd like to address those that said, maybe Boomer gave them PTSD. That is somewhat valid but bear in mind, my comparison was to rapists and murderers. You can't compare him to that with PTSD because his goal was to rob a bank. Your point would be comparable if Charlie woke up one day and that was his goal. He usually pointed the gun away. He felt bad about how one woman was really scared. And he told me he'd like to think he wouldn't shoot anyone if they got in his way but he didn't know because he'd never been put in that situation where it was obviously violent or prison before. He managed to somehow rob over fifty banks WITHOUT KILLING OR PHYSICALLY HURTING anyone so obviously he tried not to and the"Gentleman Bandit" is a fitting nickname. Been paroled for ten years and Hamilton police won't even disclose if he's dead or alive. Went to Prince of Wales with my father, Ken. The man who replied on this claiming to be his nephew is probably Lucille' son. I'm earlier in the thread as Cool Dan a couple years back. Hope Charlie is doing well. Miss him. (Daniel Cleland-Hamilton 905-902-6623)

Boy, this thread got off the rails. All these first time (and only time) posters from Canada make me suspect that Charles Boomer himself is behind all these posts, rationalizing his own behavior.

Boomer, if you are reading this, you are not a good guy and you haven't done anything glamorous. You're a disgrace to your family, friends and community. You caused a lot of un-necessary trauma to innocent people who were just doing something you never could: work a real job.

I can confirm he is alive, so my grandma used to live in the same apartment building as him, and as she couldn't walk he would regularly take her dog for a walk for her, when she passed away and we took her dog, he now comes every once and a while to walk him cause he enjoys it, also when he was cleaning his place he found the PS One he had in prison and asked my mother if I would want it, so now I have a PS One with Prison ID stickers on it. I do believe he is a good guy, and I only made this account post to give some people a heads up on how he's doing.

Boy, this thread got off the rails. All these first time (and only time) posters from Canada make me suspect that Charles Boomer himself is behind all these posts, rationalizing his own behavior.

Boomer, if you are reading this, you are not a good guy and you haven't done anything glamorous. You're a disgrace to your family, friends and community. You caused a lot of un-necessary trauma to innocent people who were just doing something you never could: work a real job.

I agree, this is kind of an oddball thread. I think its great Boomer had redeeming qualities and all and didn't hurt anyone. But at the end of the day he is still a criminal. Robbing banks is wrong. Its stealing and that's wrong anyway you flush it.

If he is still alive he should just man up and admit he is a criminal and did wrong. No one is really redeemed until they admit their wrongs instead of sitting around trying to justify them.

Canadian Police Inform Me That Charles Warren Boomer was the person who broke into my gun store in Louisville,Ky. Late 1980's and stole 5 handguns, i've recovered all handguns but one, could you please ask Boomer where my S&W #66-3" .357 / .38 spl. stainless revolver is, i've never recovered that handgun and would very much appreciate having it back home.....