Bank Robbers Beware - - and Other Stuff 

From My Journal

April 2009

In New Jersey the police responded to an alarm from a local bank, signifying that the bank was being robbed, or hosting some other sort of disturbance. The police surrounded the bank and using megaphones demanded that the perpetrators come out with their hands in plain sight and preferably not holding anything that might cause damage to the police. Through a front window they could see an individual in the bank, although the person didn’t seem to be very mobile. Finally, getting no response to their requests, threats, and admonitions, the SWAT team stormed the bank and subdued the perpetrators, which turned out to be a cardboard cutout made to look like a person, which is what they had been seeing through the window. They never did say what set off the alarm in the first place, although there was a consensus that it was not the cardboard cutout.

Nothing Like Family Time

April 2009

You know the expression “the family that prays together stays together“? Well the following has nothing to do with prayer, but does demonstrate a certain amount of family togetherness. In Indiana the police arrested a mother for drunk driving. She had her one-year old son along, so the police called a relative to come and get the young boy. The person who showed up was also drunk so was also booked for drunk driving. They called another relative and that one turned out to be drunk also and was booked. They then called the grandparents. The grandfather was drunk, but grandma had been driving and although she was tipsy she was not quite up to the legal limit of inebriation, so the police escorted her, grandpa, and the grandchild home.

Where’s a Cop When You Need One

April 2009

     There’s something to be said for doing your homework. In Harrisburg, PA, as John Comparetto was coming out of a stall in the hotel men’s room a man pointed a gun at his face and demanded his money. Now John is a retired policeman and was at the hotel attending a convention of 300 narcotics officers from Pennsylvania and Ohio. John gave up his money and cell phone, then alerted his fellow officers who gave chase and grabbed the guy as he was hailing a cab in front of the hotel. The perp had been out on bond awaiting trial on four other robbery charges.

     He’s not anymore.

If At First You Don’t Succeed _ _ _ _ _ 

April 2009

     In New York the police were canvassing the neighborhood looking for a guy who attempted a bank robbery earlier in the day. Guess where they found him? You got it--in another bank, trying the same thing. He was using a pellet gun and gave up without a struggle.