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Samantha Hayes ReportingThey may have fancied themselves the modern day Bonnie and Clyde. Instead of on the run, however, and loaded with cash, a Provo couple is in jail; not for actually robbing a bank, but for planning to.
What the plan lacked in success it more than made up for in creativity.
The target was a credit union in Provo, the day was Friday, December 1, and the getaway vehicle -- Patrick and Heather Burr thought they'd outsmart everyone by floating away from the scene of their crime -- on inner tubes.
Besides his wife, Patrick Burr had another accomplice, a guy who was going to help him commit the robbery. He even went with Burr to case the Utah Community Credit Union. Burr was caught on surveillance video in the lobby.
But that guy wasn't Burr's buddy, he was a confidential informant for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms.
John Huber, Ast. United States Attorney: "Police working in conjunction with the informant monitored all of their activities and caught them before they could go to the bank and actually perform the robbery."
So police knew the time, the place, and the best part, the couple's plan to get away.
John Huber: "And then after the robbery occurred, they were going to hop on these inner tubes and float down the river to avoid police."
That plan was foiled when Burr's car was impounded unwittingly by police for no insurance. The inner tubes were inside.
That happened Friday November 24, a week before the robbery was to take place. The following Tuesday, the 28th, Burr and the informant cased the credit union.
Wednesday, Burr told the informant he intended to get a firearm and steal a car to rob the bank. The couple was arrested shortly after.
John Huber: "The arrest warrant that was issued by the federal court was for conspiracy to commit bank robbery, which is basically planning to commit bank robbery and then making a step or two steps toward actually doing it."
But even conspiracy to rob a bank holds a maximum term of five years in prison and a 250-thousand dollar fine.
In court today the federal judge decided to hold Patrick Burr in jail and Heather is on a halfway house waiting list.
