Anyone remember these LA bank robbers? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

justins5256 · 12-09-2009, 09:59 AM

I found yet another segment that I don't think made it to Lifetime. I was curious if anyone here remembers it. It aired at the tail end of the 11/2/88 episode - the same episode that carried part one of the infamous Son of Sam report.

Robert Stack profiled four wanted bank robbers and there was a recreation of one of the holdups pulled off by the "Chevy Chase Bandit". The robber did not resemble Chevy Chase, but on his first robbery, he tripped over the rug when he walked into the bank. The investigators likened this to the old routine on SNL in the seventies where Chevy Chase would always trip and fall before saying "Live from New York". I did some searching and it appears he was finally arrested in 1990. He was an attorney apparently.
**Sidenote - I'm pretty sure the actor who played the Chevy Chase Bandit also portrayed the bank robber wearing a green windbreaker jacket in the Cathy Powers segment.

There were three other robbers profiled briefly. One was a career bank robber who had been identified but his name escapes me. He was in his fifties at the time and was said to have told an associate that when he robbed banks he didn't care so much about the money, but that he enjoyed the challenge and the adrenaline rush.

Third was the "Shotgun Bandit". The name is self explanatory.

Fourth were the "Shopping Bag Bandits" - two older Latin gentlemen who carried shopping bags into the bank and used them to carry the money out. I believe they were eventually captured (or turned themselves in) and an update aired on 11/23/88.

crystaldawn · 12-10-2009, 09:23 AM

Sounds very interesting! No I don't remember that one. I take it was a Special Alert type that only aired once or twice.

justins5256 · 12-10-2009, 10:15 AM

Yeah, it was designated as "Wanted" but it was basically a special alert. The only robbery recreated in depth was the "Chevy Chase" case. One thing interesting I noted was that "Chevy" gave a note to the teller with his demands (he also didn't take the note back, as they showed it on air). The note indicated that he had an accomplice with him in the bank. The articles I found about his arrest didn't mention an accomplice, so I gather he acted alone(?) Maybe he wrote this so she would think he wasn't alone and that this other person might shoot her or others in the bank if she didn't comply.

I recognized the story immediately. There was an update on that 11/23/88 episode about bank robbers being arrested, and I always wondered when they were originally profiled.

12-09-2009, 09:59 AM	#1
justins5256 Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 08, 2002 Posts: 3,866	Anyone remember these LA bank robbers? I found yet another segment that I don't think made it to Lifetime. I was curious if anyone here remembers it. It aired at the tail end of the 11/2/88 episode - the same episode that carried part one of the infamous Son of Sam report. Robert Stack profiled four wanted bank robbers and there was a recreation of one of the holdups pulled off by the "Chevy Chase Bandit". The robber did not resemble Chevy Chase, but on his first robbery, he tripped over the rug when he walked into the bank. The investigators likened this to the old routine on SNL in the seventies where Chevy Chase would always trip and fall before saying "Live from New York". I did some searching and it appears he was finally arrested in 1990. He was an attorney apparently. **Sidenote - I'm pretty sure the actor who played the Chevy Chase Bandit also portrayed the bank robber wearing a green windbreaker jacket in the Cathy Powers segment. There were three other robbers profiled briefly. One was a career bank robber who had been identified but his name escapes me. He was in his fifties at the time and was said to have told an associate that when he robbed banks he didn't care so much about the money, but that he enjoyed the challenge and the adrenaline rush. Third was the "Shotgun Bandit". The name is self explanatory. Fourth were the "Shopping Bag Bandits" - two older Latin gentlemen who carried shopping bags into the bank and used them to carry the money out. I believe they were eventually captured (or turned themselves in) and an update aired on 11/23/88.

12-10-2009, 09:23 AM	#2
crystaldawn Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 17, 2002 Location: Illinois Posts: 4,261	Sounds very interesting! No I don't remember that one. I take it was a Special Alert type that only aired once or twice.

12-10-2009, 10:15 AM	#3
justins5256 Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 08, 2002 Posts: 3,866	Yeah, it was designated as "Wanted" but it was basically a special alert. The only robbery recreated in depth was the "Chevy Chase" case. One thing interesting I noted was that "Chevy" gave a note to the teller with his demands (he also didn't take the note back, as they showed it on air). The note indicated that he had an accomplice with him in the bank. The articles I found about his arrest didn't mention an accomplice, so I gather he acted alone(?) Maybe he wrote this so she would think he wasn't alone and that this other person might shoot her or others in the bank if she didn't comply. I recognized the story immediately. There was an update on that 11/23/88 episode about bank robbers being arrested, and I always wondered when they were originally profiled.