Man uses Craigslist for getaway after robbery

Fri Oct 3, 2008 2:10PM EDT

See Comments (27)

This is one of the strangest yet clever crimes I've ever heard of: On Wednesday, a man in Monroe, Washington posted job listings on Craigslist to hire men for a construction site, when in reality they were being used as decoys for a robber's getaway.

King5.com reports that the unidentified robber walked up to an open armored truck outside of a Bank of America and used pepper spray to disable the guard. The robber then grabbed a bag of money, ran on foot to a nearby creek, and used an inflatable tube to make his getaway.

Here's where things get interesting: The robber, dressed in construction clothes and a dust mask,  removed his clothes while on foot and used the unsuspecting construction workers as decoys to assist in his getaway.

Mike, one of the decoys, said that he was looking for a job online, and an ad promising a $28.50 wage caught his eye. After an email was sent, he was told to meet at that specific Bank of America location at 11 a.m. and was also required to wear a specific type of clothing.

"Yellow vest, safety goggles, a respirator mask… and, if possible, a blue shirt," he said.

Although the workers were confused when waiting for work at the job site, once they heard of the robbery, they realized that they had been hoodwinked.

The robber is still at large at this time.

This definitely isn't the first time that Craigslist has been used as a tool for crime, but what, if any, security measures do you believe should be enacted to prevent these types of events from happening? Let me know in the comments below.

In the meantime, hold everything on Craigslist with a grain of salt, because you never really know who's on the other side.

King5.com - Armored truck robber uses Craigslist to make getaway

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  • 6 Posted by die_jobu_die on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:43PM EDT Report Abuse

    At the very least I would've assumed the guy was hiring people under the table. If you're dumb enough to take that road, you deserve to be had.

  • 7 Posted by odogxb on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:43PM EDT Report Abuse

    I have to give the bank robber props on this. No one else thought of this and this guy is smart in a way. It's not good to have your hard earn money stolen from you, i would be pissed. But the guy was smart he planed it to where it worked at his advantage and so far got away with it. If this guy could do this why does our government suck on finding killers, and occult groups

  • 8 Posted by brentgrab on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:12PM EDT Report Abuse

    you can't put the blame on 'craigslist' this could of happened anywhere. craigslist is a GREAT tool if used properly.

  • 9 Posted by icfcsc on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:22PM EDT Report Abuse

    Real clever,But crime dont pay!Even in times like this !You get buy, but he wont get away.

  • 10 Posted by icfcsc on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:22PM EDT Report Abuse

    Concider this as creative,finaning.

  • 11 Posted by rogueist on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:49PM EDT Report Abuse

    WOW - talk about inventive! This story made my day - had me laughing!

  • 12 Posted by team43_1 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:59PM EDT Report Abuse

    I agree with Alan R, how is this different than taking out a regular ad in the newspaper? Dont blame craigslist. I have used craislist for sometime now and have never had an issue. at 28.50 an hour to me it was one of those "too good to be true" deals. Its up to US to be smart not craigslist. I would have researched the companies name that was doing the hiring or at least got some kind of info. Looks like human error to me.

  • 14 Posted by kevin_standring on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:50PM EDT Report Abuse

    In order to post an add on craigs list you have to have an account. And in that account you have to have an E-mail. That E-mail address has an IP address assigned to it. Anyone who knows about computer crimes and trackes them can find this guy

  • 15 Posted by zmunif on Thu Sep 3, 2009 11:01PM EDT Report Abuse

    Ripped off from dark knight "use a school bus" getaway trick

  • 16 Posted by mercury141960 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:16PM EDT Report Abuse

    So, I know that you have to use an email address when posting to Craigslist. Seems to me detectives could track the robber via his email address. Simple enough.

  • 17 Posted by dpcerberusblaze on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:47PM EDT Report Abuse

    To the people saying to just track him through his email: Yeah... if he was "smart" enough to come up with this little scheme, he's smart enough to not use his personal email and certainly not post it from a computer anywhere near where he lives. Honestly, a 6th grader could have come up with this little scheme. To think he actually got away with it... wow. Really, when unloading an armored car full of money, I think there should be a minimum of 3 guards. One at the truck and one at either end of the street in just civilian clothing or something. Extra guards to cover extra exit points. Honestly, they should protect their money a little better when moving it.

  • 18 Posted by arizona4334 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:57PM EDT Report Abuse

    What he did was obviously wrong, but since its bank of america, YOU GO BOY! bank of america ripped me off before for $1200 in bogus fees for fees, B of A has about 1.8 trillion dollars in assets. hope someone else punks them for more.

  • 19 Posted by goddessmelanisia on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:10PM EDT Report Abuse

    I highly doubt he used his personal e-mail address, and most likely did the work from a computer in wifi coffee shop. one of those rent a computer by the hour no questions asked kinda places. It would however be a simple matter to call the provider of the email addy (IE yahoo or hotmail) and get the IP addy he used. then trace the IP addy and the time the emails were send and recieved. You could trace it to where he did the computer work at and try to trace his credit card. Most of the places do require a credit card of some kind.

  • 20 Posted by teleprovider on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:59PM EDT Report Abuse

    That is not a new trick. Decoy has been effective tactic for any crime. The big problem was finding and convincing the person to show off. When that happen, you are outsourcing the victims and levering above them.

  • 21 Posted by brookschristopher2007 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:13PM EDT Report Abuse

    I think it is Great that the robber was clever enough to get away with it. Kinda funny I think.

  • 24 Posted by hotbox0624 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:20PM EDT Report Abuse

    You cant discredit the robber, well above average comparing to majority of criminal minds(idiots). Had an idea, took the time to plan, and made it happen...I say bravo. Obviously, he's in need of money for some reason to do this. Its not like people just wake up and tell themselves "today I feel like jackin an armor truck, but how? Hmmmm..." IMO, his crime is not so much a crime. Finding opportunity, outsmarting your adversaries, is far less of a criminal act than rapist and molesters. Those are people that we should worry bout. Overall A idea, plan, and determination A++ having steel balls, determination, and success. He didn't kill no one, and I'm sure the guard is fine, feelin like an arse. He deserves the bag JMHO. Go ahead and flame me...you too, know its true.

  • 25 Posted by cla3rk2001 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:26PM EDT Report Abuse

    It's always the internet's fault with these guys. How do we stop the rampant abuse of pepper spray is what I want to know.

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