Sewer rat bank robbers in Los Angeles - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Awsi Dooger · 04-10-2003, 05:47 AM

A naughty alarm denied these guys the cash and notoriety their scheme otherwise could have garnered.

I think this incident was from the late '80s. Apparently, the sewers of LA were unguarded and weaved very close to directly underneath some of the most prominent banks in the city. The aspiring thieves displayed incredible cleverness, patience and tolerance by tunneling to the brink of the vaults, estimated at several months work.

But they were interrupted early during the first haul when an alarm blasted and the robbers fled in haste. Authorities found mini all-terrain cycles, used to navigate and haul, at the exit of the sewer, and also massive round drill bits to make the final assault into the vault. Checking the rest of the sewer system uncovered many other completed tunnels, and it was estimated that just one uninterrupted weekend of work would have produced millions in underground loot.

I have never seen an update during Lifetime reruns, nor read about this incident among several books about famous bank capers. A web search revealed nothing.

I seem to remember that authorities were able to trace the purchase of the mini cycles, but apparently that did not lead to capture. Perhaps someone here has more info.

Awsi Dooger · 05-12-2006, 04:43 AM

Hey, one of my threads didn't have a reply. Takes care of 'rat.

There was a guy here a couple months ago who thought his relatives were involved in this case, partially based on an item he saw in their possession.

RightOnDude · 05-12-2006, 09:10 AM

oh yeah I remember that guy ... he wanted to make sure the "statute of limitations" had expired so his uncle wouldn't get in trouble, right? And then removed the posts where he said such ...

clead23 · 05-17-2006, 11:50 PM

actually it was a lady who said her uncle had the possesions. Also what does statue of limitations mean?

Awsi Dooger · 05-18-2006, 12:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clead23

actually it was a lady who said her uncle had the possesions. Also what does statue of limitations mean?

The poster was SiberianKiss: http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/...71#post2967671

Statute of limitations means a time duration for criminal charges to be filed. SiberianKiss wrote it expired in 1992 in this case.

SiberianKiss · 06-06-2006, 04:38 PM

interesting note, it was exactly 20 years ago to this day that they made it inside the vault....

04-10-2003, 05:47 AM	#1
Awsi Dooger Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 18, 2003 Location: Miami Posts: 1,537	Sewer rat bank robbers in Los Angeles A naughty alarm denied these guys the cash and notoriety their scheme otherwise could have garnered. I think this incident was from the late '80s. Apparently, the sewers of LA were unguarded and weaved very close to directly underneath some of the most prominent banks in the city. The aspiring thieves displayed incredible cleverness, patience and tolerance by tunneling to the brink of the vaults, estimated at several months work. But they were interrupted early during the first haul when an alarm blasted and the robbers fled in haste. Authorities found mini all-terrain cycles, used to navigate and haul, at the exit of the sewer, and also massive round drill bits to make the final assault into the vault. Checking the rest of the sewer system uncovered many other completed tunnels, and it was estimated that just one uninterrupted weekend of work would have produced millions in underground loot. I have never seen an update during Lifetime reruns, nor read about this incident among several books about famous bank capers. A web search revealed nothing. I seem to remember that authorities were able to trace the purchase of the mini cycles, but apparently that did not lead to capture. Perhaps someone here has more info.

05-12-2006, 04:43 AM	#2
Awsi Dooger Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 18, 2003 Location: Miami Posts: 1,537	Hey, one of my threads didn't have a reply. Takes care of 'rat. There was a guy here a couple months ago who thought his relatives were involved in this case, partially based on an item he saw in their possession.

05-12-2006, 09:10 AM	#3
RightOnDude Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 12, 2005 Posts: 266	oh yeah I remember that guy ... he wanted to make sure the "statute of limitations" had expired so his uncle wouldn't get in trouble, right? And then removed the posts where he said such ...

05-17-2006, 11:50 PM	#4
clead23 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Mar 08, 2006 Posts: 29	actually it was a lady who said her uncle had the possesions. Also what does statue of limitations mean?

06-06-2006, 04:38 PM	#6
SiberianKiss Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Mar 08, 2006 Posts: 204	interesting note, it was exactly 20 years ago to this day that they made it inside the vault....