Polite Man Robbed Bank of $1 and Waited in Lobby to Be Arrested, Say Police
The 65-year-old man handed the teller a polite note before being arrested.
A man was arrested and accused of politely robbing a Salt Lake City bank of just $1, apologizing to the teller and then asking the teller to call the police to arrest him. Donald Matthew Santacroce, 65, was charged with one count of robbery in connection with the incident Monday. "Donald said he had done this because he wanted to get arrested and go to federal prison," according to an arrest report. Here's what you need to know about this odd incident.
Where Did It Happen
The robbery took place at about 10:30 a.m. Monday at a Wells Fargo Bank on South Main Street in Salt Lake City. Police from the Salt Lake City Robbery and Violent Crime Squad arrested Santacroce in the bank's lobby. The FBI from the Salt Lake City field office is helping the police in the investigation, police said.
What Happened
Santacroce gave a bank teller a note that said, "Please pardon me for doing this but this is a robbery. Please give me $1. Thank you," according to an affidavit cited by KSL. The teller handed over a dollar and asked Santacroce to leave the bank. He declined the request and instead asked the teller to call the police.
Santacroce took a seat and waited, the affidavit said. The police apparently took their time responding. "While waiting for police, Donald made a statement to the victims that they are lucky [he] didn't have a gun because it was taking the police so long to get there," the affidavit said. That apparently spooked the bank's branch manager, who took the staff into a back room and locked the doors, the affidavit added. No one was injured, police said.
Why Did He Do It?
It's not clear why Santacroce did what he's accused of doing. But it appears he had no interest in getting away. "Donald said he had done this because he wanted to get arrested and go to federal prison," the affidavit said. If he doesn't get there, he said, "He will rob another bank and ask for more money next time trying to get the desired result of going to federal prison," the affidavit said.
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What's Next
Santacroce was booked into Salt Lake County Metro Jail. It's unclear if he will be granted bail or if he has entered a plea. Utah Highway Patrol in Iron County, Utah, arrested Santacroce a week earlier on suspicion of driving under the influence, careless driving and driving with a suspended Missouri license.
