Police: teen's drug addiction may have fueled bank robberies


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OREM -- Police are building a case against a 16-year-old boy accused of robbing two banks in less than an hour on Saturday.

Investigators are still shaking their heads at how he did it -- taking his mother's car, without permission, to rob the banks by going through the drive-thru.

Authorities said the teen drove to a nearby Central Bank first, pulled into the drive-up lane and sent a note through the vacuum canister demanding money from the teller.

"Basically (the note) made an inference to him having a weapon," said Orem Police Sgt. Craig Martinez.


The money is very minimal for the risk, and you have a very slim chance of ever getting away with robbing a bank,

–Orem Police Sgt. Craig Martinez


The tellers handed over the money and quickly contacted police. They were able to give a detailed description of the vehicle -- a blue Toyota Corolla -- and a license plate number.

The boy pulled the same stunt at an America First Credit Union branch 20 minutes later. However, his luck with getting what he thought was easy money quickly ran out when police tracked him down just minutes after the second robbery.

Officers found his vehicle and an undisclosed amount of cash before catching up with the boy, who was walking nearby.

Now, some people are wondering why the bank tellers gave in so easily to the boy's demands when they were safe inside the banks.

"It's a good question," said Martinez. "The problem with the question is you nor I was there. We don't know the bank's policies and maybe the tellers were afraid for their lives."

As far as police are concerned, the tellers did the right thing by cooperating and not provoking the robber to violence. The boy left plenty of evidence behind to connect him to the crimes.

As for why a 16-year-old would resort to robbing a bank -- police said his motive only adds to the tragedy of a young man who is in very serious trouble with the law.

"My understanding is that this poor young man has a drug addiction and that's probably what sparked his need or want for money," said Martinez.

But regardless of age or motive, police said robbery is a crime that never pays.

"The money is very minimal for the risk, and you have a very slim chance of ever getting away with robbing a bank," Martinez said.

The boy remained in juvenile custody Monday and prosecutors will decide if he will be charged as an adult.

The banks in this case did not respond to our calls, but it is standard practice in the banking industry to comply with a robber's demands, regardless of the situation, to reduce the risk of violence.

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Sam Penrod

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