OK, so maybe public transit isn't for everybody.........

[marmar]

San Jose Bank Robber Chooses Wrong Getaway Vehicle — Light Rail Train

By Sandra Gonzales
San Jose Mercury News


CALIFORNIA - This was no run-of-the-mill bank robbery escape Tuesday in San Jose.

With no getaway car waiting, the bank robber picked a novel way to try to elude police a light rail train. It turned out to be a big mistake.

"It's not something I've heard of before," police spokesman Dirk Parsons said.

After entering a Wells Fargo Bank branch in the 100 block of South Market Street about 1 p.m., the lone robber gave the teller a note, claiming he had a gun. The teller turned over the money and the robber ran off with an undisclosed amount of cash, police said.

But the thief didn't get far.

Police were ready for him at the St. James Park light rail station after learning he had boarded a northbound train.

Shortly after, they found their suspect on the train.

Ermec Antonio Avalos, 25, of San Jose, was taken into custody without incident and booked in Santa Clara County jail on suspicion of robbing the bank, according to police. Officers retrieved the money. No firearm was found.


http://www.masstransitmag.com/online/article.jsp?siteSection=3&id=11643

[Warpy]

1. He's not alone, other Darwin contenders have done it, too

I've been on trains several times that stopped in stations and stayed with doors closed until the cops arrived and dragged some joker off one of the cars. I've also been on a city bus that stopped, doors shut, until squad cars surrounded it and some joker got dragged off.

Apparently public transit doesn't make that great a getaway car if you expect to ride it any distance.

[marmar]

2. I think the criminals spent too much time watching the Eddie Murphy-Nick Nolte flick "48 Hrs"....

..... where the crooks get away on a crowded San Francisco MUNI train.

[pinboy3niner]

3. He got on the JAIL Express train by mistake nt