Read the full story here Web Link posted Wednesday, January 14, 2009, 9:41 PM
https://n2v.paloaltoonline.com/square/print/2009/01/15/man-in-red--wig-robs-alliance-credit-union
Town Square
Man in red wig robs Alliance Credit Union
Original post made on Jan 15, 2009
Read the full story here Web Link posted Wednesday, January 14, 2009, 9:41 PM
Comments
a resident of Midtown
on Jan 15, 2009 at 10:34 am
Banks remind sheep these days. Serves them right.
"No one saw which way he went after he left the office" - how about cameras outside the bank, stupid!
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Jan 15, 2009 at 10:45 am
And how about bullet proof glass screens between the tellers and customers?
a resident of another community
on Jan 15, 2009 at 10:48 am
No one thought to walk to the door and see where he went, or if he got into a car? I wonder what would have happened if the teller hadn't understood Spanish.......
a resident of University South
on Jan 15, 2009 at 11:00 am
"And how about bullet proof glass screens between the tellers and customers?"
Sure, why not? It's a great way to lose thugs AND customers.
Or, do what First Republic Bank does and have the tellers sit behind actual desks and give personal one-on-one attention to their customers. They greet their customers by name as they enter the door. The money is kept in another room. What robber in his right mind would sit at a desk while the teller leaves the room to get the loot? You never hear about robberies at First Republic. They must be doing something right.
a resident of East Palo Alto
on Jan 15, 2009 at 11:14 am
I have been banking at this bank for 15+ years and they are closing for good at the end of the month. This is a inside Job and the second time they got robbed in less than 4 months. How somebody speaking Spanish and dressed like Ronald Mc Donald doesnt get noticed walking in dowtown Palo Alto across from a major Restaurant/hotel with outside seating and bell boy/parkin attendants, a yoga place right next door with full glass windows, and a California Pizza Kitchen to doors down at 5pm!!!!!!!!! Whatever it's so packed in that area at 5pm you can barely find parking nearby.
a resident of Menlo Park
on Jan 15, 2009 at 11:57 am
Look, Einsteins !
Red Wig?
McDonalds !!!
a resident of Menlo Park
on Jan 15, 2009 at 2:27 pm
I love Alliance. They've been robbed a number of times & used to have the bulletproof glass. I didn't like it, but thought it was safer. Maybe they were too scared to see what way the robber went, or had to call the police asap & couldn't also run to the front door.
a resident of Los Altos
on Jan 15, 2009 at 2:57 pm
Will all of you have been in a robbery please raise your hands? This can be a terrifying and traumatic experience and one where they are taught to do exactly what they are told by the robber. There are people with red curly hair in this world, so why automatically assume that they should have suspected it was a wig at first sight?
Instead of commenting on your opinion of their intelligence, honesty and integrity, PLEASE consider the terror they were going through at the time, and believe me, if you have NOT been through it, you have absolutely no cause to judge!
a resident of Menlo Park
on Jan 15, 2009 at 3:02 pm
It's a shame. Nice little bank that provides great services, even for Credit Unions on the other side of the country. Hard to believe no one saw anything. A silent alarm would be the best approach. Put a note on Craig's list. Someone will remember which way the guy went. What a bummer that the bank is closing. I'll miss it.
a resident of Midtown
on Jan 15, 2009 at 6:52 pm
Construction is slow and we really dont have any idea whos in this country anymore. So get ready for the onslaught of robberies.
a resident of University South
on Jan 16, 2009 at 7:46 am
How do you know they're closing this branch? I've been a member of Alliance for 19 years and I haven't heard anything.
a resident of Fairmeadow
on Jan 19, 2009 at 10:54 am
Mike,
There were signs on the door and ATM machine that they were closing next weekend. I have an account there too, and I don't recall getting any notice in the mail, either.