This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
A 44-year-old Salt Lake City man put a new spin on traditional bank robberies.
Instead of hitting up the banks for cash during the day, the man burglarized several of them at night, making off with several thousand dollars in cash, according to a criminal complaint filed Friday in 3rd District Court.
Police allege the man first burglarized the Brighton Bank, 1735 S. 300 West, on Sept. 13, stealing $325.95 from a cash drawer and causing $1,523.20 in damage to a window. Police said the man struck again Sept. 15, at the Mountain America Credit Union, 1225 South Redwood Road, causing about $600 in damage. On Oct. 1, police said, the man again broke into Brighton Bank, making off with $409.14 and causing $1,900 in damage. He allegedly struck again Oct. 7 at the Trans America Credit Union, 37 W. 1700 South, stealing $2,366.75 and causing $319 in damage to a window.
His alleged crime spree came to an end Oct. 24, when a police officer heard a business alarm near 1300 South State St. The officer spotted the man picking up items from the street and ordered him to stop. Police said the man refused and tried to flee. When police caught up with him, they said they recovered a white cloth mask, merchandise, a pry bar and black and yellow gloves.
They said the man had pried open the door to Smoker's Guru, 1350 South State St., and stolen $720 in merchandise from the store, the complaint says.
Police said surveillance footage at the scenes of the burglaries captured the same man, who was always wearing a white mask and black and yellow gloves, and carrying a pry bar.
The man has been charged with five counts of burglary and two counts of theft, all third-degree felonies, and several misdemeanor charges, records show.
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