Hat Bandit/Mad Hatter - II


February 8, 2008

This is about a guy who liked to rob banks in New Jersey…


Audio Transcript

Mr. Schiff: This is about a guy who liked to rob banks in New Jersey…

Mr. Grassie: "He committed 18 successful bank robberies; one attempt for a total of 19.”

Mr. Schiff: Special Agent Steve Grassie at the FBI’s Newark office…

Mr. Grassie: "He was called the Hat Bandit, primarily, and also the Mad Hatter.”

Mr. Schiff: The robber always wore a hat. A baseball cap, a hunter’s hat or a knit hat. Grassie says he used notes…

Mr. Grassie: "His M.O. was pretty simple and rather typical for a lot of these guys. We call them a ‘Note Job Guy.’ “

Mr. Schiff: The FBI with police from several cities including Union and Newark along with Essex, Union, Morris and Middlesex County, searched for the robber. After another holdup, the FBI and police found the robber’s girlfriend. From there they found he lived in Maplewood. Grassie says surveillance began and early one morning the subject came out…

Mr. Grassie:"He attempted to drive away from the apartment complex and we executed the arrest at that point, blocking him with our vehicles and detained him.”

Mr. Schiff: All in all, the guy stole $81,000. He pleaded guilty and is now in prison for 10-years. I’m Neal Schiff of the Bureau and that's the FBI's Closed Case of the Week."

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