FAIRFIELD TOWNSHIP, Ohio (KHN) – A 74-year-old woman accused of stealing a bank in Ohio may have been short on cash. Police said Ann Mayers was armed when she demanded money from the bank.
Surveillance cameras caught the crime on Friday afternoon. “The tellers at the bank were afraid. They spotted the gun. They are undoubtedly scarred by this. It’s terrible to be held up, especially when there is a gun involved, and you don’t know what the person’s intentions are,” said Fairfield Township Police Sgt. Brandon McCroskey.
Mayers escaped with $500. Police found her within an hour and a half at her Hamilton home.
According to McCroskey, the woman was recently conned out of thousands of dollars by someone online. She owed money to her family and friends.
Police stated that she had no criminal history before the bank heist.
“I believe she told me she stole a candy bar once, but otherwise she has never taken anything. McCroskey stated that she had no idea why she did it, but it was out of desperation.
While some may sympathize with the 74-year-old widow, McCroskey claimed she knew exactly what she was doing and had even discussed robbing a bank with her sister in the days prior. “I don’t think her sister thought she was serious,” McCroskey added.
But she was quite serious. McCroskey stated that she attempted to conceal her identity by removing her car’s license plate and a bumper sticker.
“So that suggests at least that she knew what she was gonna do and knew what she was doing was wrong,” according to McCroskey. When police detained Mayers, they discovered the money and the revolver, which McCroskey stated was loaded. Mayers is in jail on charges of aggravated robbery and tampering with evidence.
Her first court appearance happened on Monday.