Elderly Man On A Walker Robs Bank, Walks Short Distance Before Getting Arrested

A 68-year-old man who robbed a California bank this week while using a walking frame was able to move a short distance from the scene before getting arrested, according to authorities.

The staff of the Wells Fargo bank on Fresno Street and Van Ness Avenue contacted police at around 10:30 a.m. Tuesday to report that a robbery had taken place, KSEE 24 reported, citing officers.

The robber, described by the bank's clerk as an elderly man with a walker, approached the counter and provided a demand note.

The elderly man left the bank after the clerk gave him around $200 with a tracking device enclosed.

"He walked up, utilizing his walker, provided a note to the clerk, who gave him the money, and he walked out - with his walker," Lt. Bill Dooley of the Fresno Police Department said.

The hidden tracker was used to locate the man a short distance away.

"He did not get very far with his walker," Dooley said.

The man, whose name was officially released, was then taken into police custody.

He did not have a weapon on him at the time of the robbery, officers noted.

In a similar incident in 2019, a man attempted to rob a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania bank while in a wheelchair.

Emanuel Luna entered the First National Bank at 114 E. Carson Street just before 3:20 p.m. on Aug. 13, 2019 and demaded money from the teller while using a wheelchair as a prop.

"I have a bomb if you don't want to die you will give, and it is in my backpack, I will press the button and kill us all for no less than $50,000, please try me," Luna's note, which he handed to the teller, read.

Luna exited the bank after the teller activated an alarm and used her telephone to call the manager.

Investigators were able to locate Luna's wheelchair and recover a fingerprint that matched his.

A judge sentenced Luna to 46 months in prison and three years of supervised released in July of last year after he got convicted of attempted bank robbery.

Luna, through his counsel, acknowledged during the sentencing that the robbery had been a "really stupid crime" and that it was "inconceivable" that he would get away with it.