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Cedar Falls police rope off the scene of a bank robbery at Wells Fargo Bank on University Avenue Monday, Dec. 1, 2008, in Cedar Falls, Iowa. (MATTHEW PUTNEY / Courier Photo Editor)
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Monday, December 1, 2008 4:40 PM CST
Another C.F. bank robbed
By TINA HINZ, Courier Staff Writer
CEDAR FALLS -- Police are investigating a reported bank robbery at the Wells Fargo bank branch near College Square this morning.

The incident was reported just before noon.

Courier staff at the scene said police cordoned off the parking lot of the former Hy-Vee store building just west of the mall, where the free-standing Wells Fargo bank branch is located, as they proceeded with their investigation. Police also could be seen checking the surrounding neighborhood.

Police Chief Jeff Olson described the suspect as 5-foot-8 to 5-foot-10 inches tall, wearing blue jeans, a gray hooded sweatshirt that said "GAP" on the front and sunglasses. Part of his face was covered, but the covering fell down at some point and his likeness was captured on a security camera.

Olson said there are "definite similarities" between this and the previous robberies. The suspect passed a note to a teller demanding money in this and the other cases, and suspect descriptions were similar.

Police were canvassing the neighborhood south of the bank and the old Hy-Vee grocery store building, going door to door. A woman who did not want to have herself or her residence identified told The Courier she believed she saw an individual matching the suspect's description  walk by her window. Police were trying to preserve footprints left in the snow nearby and were investigating the possibility that the suspect had parked a vehicle there.

It is the fourth financial institution robbed in the city in a month. The most recent one occurred Saturday at the Iowa Community Credit Union branch on Cedar Heights Drive. The first two institutions robbed were both downtown, a block from the police station.

Olson said a reward would be offered for information leading to the suspect's arrest. He said the FBI is assisting with this investigation, as with the previous robberies.

Read additional online updates and Tuesday's Courier for more details.
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barbie200455 wrote on Dec 1, 2008 12:00 PM:

" Wow, this guy has got some serious B***s to do this four times in a month!!!! "

loovian wrote on Dec 1, 2008 12:03 PM:

" Hmm, is it just me or are the details getting slimmer and slimmer on these things? 1/2 the article is not even about this robbery -- and points out the obvious fact that if the news article was posted before noon, the robbery must have been reported before noon. "

JonL wrote on Dec 1, 2008 12:16 PM:

" Apparently anyone can just walk into a bank and ask for money.

I'm glad no one has been hurt, but disappointed that Cedar Valley banks will soon no doubt be like my old banks back in California- tellers behind bullet-proof glass. "

goof17 wrote on Dec 1, 2008 12:21 PM:

" This is crazy. I can't believe the cops can't find these people. It's probably like a game to the robbers now. "

nanag wrote on Dec 1, 2008 12:46 PM:

" wow another one unbelieveable. this guy must have a really big Christmas list to buy for "

courier_reader921 wrote on Dec 1, 2008 1:04 PM:

" how many banks are left in CF that haven't been robbed? put an undercover officer in each one, have waterloo or BHC sheriff come in to help.

In Waterloo, Police would be coming from every direction...you wouldn't get very far. Maybe CF needs more officers? Strength in numbers. "

lovewaterloo wrote on Dec 1, 2008 2:03 PM:

" I agree. This is getting out of hand. How is he getting away this easy? Come on banks! Tough up! "

trailertrash wrote on Dec 1, 2008 2:33 PM:

" Seems to me this person has a serious drug problem that is finally gettin' the best of them. Couldn't the banks hire security personel to be there during banking hours? Instead of tying up our city officials, who obviously can't be every where at once. Just until this person is caught? "

JonL wrote on Dec 1, 2008 2:38 PM:

" Apparently, since banks are insured by the Feds, robbing one is a federalcrime that therefore involves the FBI. Does this idiot realize he has incurred the wrath of the US Gov't? "

Spenser wrote on Dec 1, 2008 2:43 PM:

" Where are the hundreds of people that always seem to be concerned with everybodies elses business but their own when something like this happens. "

loovian wrote on Dec 1, 2008 3:05 PM:

" courier_reader921,

Let's be real here. The only time in recent history the Waterloo Police did not simply give up and say "Just another day in Waterloo" was the time they could track footprints to the door of the hardened criminals.

Those teenagers taxed the officers to their limit!

Perhaps you were referring to the police not arresting anyone for the home invasions? Or not arresting anyone for drive bys? or not arresting anyone for armed robbery of stores? Or not arresting the people that mugged the delivery boys or taxi drivers?

Exactly what incident from recent memory *are* you referring to? "

loovian wrote on Dec 1, 2008 3:09 PM:

" For the literacy challenged the Courier has provided a nice graphic showing the locations of recent crimes:

http://www.wcfcourier.com/special/robberies/

Please note, of the *8* incidents in Little Chicago, only *1* has been solved -- and this also ignores the *other* delivery driver mugged. "

Heartland wrote on Dec 1, 2008 3:09 PM:

" Question, do banks have panic buttons? Maybe a silly question, but wondering don't they have something to connect them to the police department to let them know they are being robbed? If they don't it seems like maybe they should. "

jammaj wrote on Dec 1, 2008 3:46 PM:

" The banks need more security, obviously. I'm wondering about the motives of this person... obviously, to get some money for one thing. But, are they also enjoying the notoriety?

On the other hand, maybe these are not all the same person. Enough detail has been put in the paper and on TV so that some of these could be "copycat" robberies. "

phleb-girl wrote on Dec 1, 2008 3:54 PM:

" I am grateful that no one has been hurt...but I am sure the tellers are traumatized. It would be a very scary feeling wondering if this is the time he starts shooting. "

Schmoo wrote on Dec 1, 2008 4:02 PM:

" Maybe they should train their officers to do more then just bust college students for drinking. Yes, its important to keep them under control and off the streets but whats going to happen if we have someone doing something worse then robbing banks? "

KRIS wrote on Dec 1, 2008 4:39 PM:

" This is really getting to be a joke. I think the tellers should be allowed to take action on their own. Or, make the double entry doors with bullet proof glass and when the robber goes to leave, lock them in between the doors til the cops show up. If they dont willingly surrender, gas em out. They are just laughing at the cops by this point. What ever happened to the paint packs they used to give instead of real money?? "

eureka1951 wrote on Dec 1, 2008 5:04 PM:

" I had to turn on KCRG cuz KWWL didn't even have this as their leading story at 5!!! What is that about??? Come on people - another bank robbery beats an article on snow!!! Anyway I think that's what it was. I hurried and turned it to KCRG and they had it on first thing and I learned more from them than my local channel!!! "

jcbr wrote on Dec 1, 2008 5:23 PM:

" crazy both alota people i talk to say its a cop . well maybe someone has a scaner these robberies have tobe thought out to coincede with time frame of law enforcement and customer traffic caseing the joint ahead of time . in all fairness the cops have the underhand easy for people to point the finger sooner or later hope nobody gets hurt "

pantherfan1 wrote on Dec 1, 2008 5:26 PM:

" They do have panic buttons but from what I have heard they don't want to press them until the robber has left so it doesn't creat a hostage situation. I went to the bank today in Waterloo ICCU and they were only letting one in at a time, their doors were locked. "

cire wrote on Dec 1, 2008 6:02 PM:

" do they actually want to catch this guy or not??

How about release to the public..
-a sketch of the guy with & without the mask on (since it fell off apparently at one point)
- MORE photos of him, from different angles (could be very helpful)
- Eye color, or other details such as if they could see his hair color, if he spoke at all during the robbery, and what the note(s) said.

Cedar Falls is a relatively small town, someone reading this right now knows who this guy is and could possibly identify them.....or we can just wait for the next bank to be robbed, either way. "

hetfield wrote on Dec 1, 2008 6:12 PM:

" where is cf1981? not in his town! not on his watch! 'this must be someone from the loo. '

come on cf, fess up. "

Out-of-towner wrote on Dec 1, 2008 7:26 PM:

" I am here to make an offer to my fellow law enforcement officers in the Cedar Valley. I have some vacation time built up and would be more than willing to drive on up to Iowa (never been there but I think it is just north of Mt. Pilot) and NIP THIS BANK ROBBING THING IN THE BUD ! ! ! I'll even pack a clean shirt with 2 BULLETS in my pocket. Respectfully, Bernard P. (Barney) Fife, Deputy Sheriff, Mayberry, NC. "

spursnsaddles wrote on Dec 1, 2008 7:57 PM:

" jcbr:
I agree, I have discussed these robberies with people that work law enforcement in several different ways and they say the same thing. It seems like a cop that knows the do's and don'ts of robbery. Someone that can do it at the right time when there are no cops around and can blend in to everyday people on the outside. Either that or this person is good at casing out the joint before he does it. But, the public needs more info and description to help catch this guy. We certainly can't go off the info we have. I'm begining to wonder if the don't need to call in the CSI teams to help them figure this out. Common sense would be to have the banks start pushing panic buttons, doesn't seem like he is forcing a weapon of any kind of the tellers and he doesn't seem to be the violent type no one is ever getting hurt. He must have a really big christmas list this year. Who knows, he will eventually get caught. WE HOPE!!! "

JKovacs wrote on Dec 1, 2008 8:37 PM:

" This has to be an off-dudy police officer doing this! This is my gut feeling. "

Newswatcher wrote on Dec 1, 2008 8:53 PM:

" This is an embarassment for the Cedar Falls Police Department AND for all the banks that are caught so off guard that this can happen 5 times!!!!!!
WAKE UP, BANKS!!!!!
GET TO WORK, COPS!!!!!
Doesn't anyone work hard at their jobs anymore? "

oldicehouse wrote on Dec 1, 2008 9:00 PM:

" He's staying at the casino. He robs the bank,his girlfriend drives the car. They go back to the casino live like king and queen for a few days. Their money runs out. Do it again.Mask falls go to other folky town with casino,start up again.Probaly been traveling across country for years like this. "

harleyboy1961 wrote on Dec 1, 2008 9:51 PM:

" Here is my thought and it does not mean I am right either. Could this guy be an area drug user? Some addict that has a very bad drug habit that he is trying to keep supplied and since his source is local, he also is staying local.
I suspect that most professional bank robbers hit a bank in a community, travel a few hundred miles or so and changing directions along the way. He then cases and hits another one, and so on to stay ahead of the investigating agencies.
Or it could be anyone of a hundred other scenerios. I guess we won't know until they catch him.
This guy apparently isn't smart enough to leave, to escape identification, so he'll get caught eventually. "

shouldbemayor wrote on Dec 2, 2008 12:51 AM:

" This is not good for the cops. Should this guy stop now, they are 0-4 in bank robberies this year. OUCH. They have no way of knowing who, where he is. 0-4 in federal offenses. Fortunately, most occured far away from the police station to avoid serious embaras.......

The police have to be feeling pretty foolish now. What to do...What to do.... "

IowaHawk1969 wrote on Dec 2, 2008 6:30 AM:

" So this guys mask fell down, why are they not posting his face n the news so he can be identified? "

KC wrote on Dec 2, 2008 6:48 AM:

" yeah, it's the banks fault they're being robbed - OMG, newswatcher! "

mommyof2 wrote on Dec 2, 2008 8:09 AM:

" First of all, banks do not need to WAKE UP. They are doing exactly what they are told to do in a robbery situation. Never are they going to take the law in to their own hands, do you want them or maybe your relative who is in the bank to be killed? We have heard that no weapons were used, but that doesn't mean the individual doing this doesn't have one concealed on them. Again, you always assume they are armed. The fact that this has happened 4 times is scary and ridiculous. I feel for anyone working in a financial that hasn't gotten hit yet. I'm sure I would have this fear at the back of my mind everyday until this person or persons are caught. I applaud the bank employees for following procedure and preventing injuries! Money can be replaced, lives cannot. "

CiCi wrote on Dec 2, 2008 8:42 AM:

" I don't pretend to know how banks run, but I thought at one point they put money in bags that had dye packs in them. The dye pack would explode, staining the bills and thereby making it difficult for them to be used (because merchants would recognize them). But perhaps in these cases, the money isn't being placed in bags -- it's just being handed over? Does sound like the guy knows what he's doing. When he runs out of CF banks, he'll undoubtedly move on to others. "

myvoicematterstome wrote on Dec 2, 2008 8:57 AM:

" My bank locked their inside doors and have to let people in. They have a sign right on their door, ALL hats MUST be removed. Even stores do that. It's too bad that this is what it's come too. "

imfireball wrote on Dec 2, 2008 9:22 AM:

" What I want to know is why are the banks not suspicious of someone who comes into the bank with a full hood and scarf to cover their entire face? You would think that at this point that they would be on the look out for people that are covering their face when entering the bank? "

vorski wrote on Dec 2, 2008 11:18 AM:

" shouldbemayor: You are joking right? You say this is not good for cops. This is not good for the community. All that overtime while they try to solve this is costing the taxpayers money. LOTS OF MONEY.... and when it's time to raise taxes it wont be the commerical taxes that only get raised, the personal taxes will also. We are all in this together - dah. It would be total luck for the police to stumble into a bank and CATCH this person in the act. They are working on the clues, and with time, they will arrest this person, not in a bank, but somewhere. This is not an embarrasment. I am thankful we have police out there working on this, I would not want to be looking for a bank robber, they are just a dangerous (or maybe more) then a drug dealer, etc. Give the Police a Break! "

chatty1 wrote on Dec 2, 2008 11:22 AM:

" I know people that work at 2 of the banks robbed, and they say that they can't push the panic button until after the robber leaves. So they don't get any hostage situations. I don't know why they don't have a guard at the door requiring everyone entering to remove hats, scarves and glasses either or else refuse them service until they do. Also, not sure that they'd get into a hostage situation if the cops sat outside and waited on the robber to leave rather than busting through the doors when he's still in there. "

JC wrote on Dec 2, 2008 12:25 PM:

" I would make them take off their shoes also, like bridal shops do. With the snow, what robber is going to take off running from the bank barefoot?? "

Stana wrote on Dec 2, 2008 12:33 PM:

" Two comments 1) yeah whoever posted abot KWWL not showing local news well hit the nail on the head. My friends who were severly hit by flood this year now boycotts KWWL because there was more Cedar Rapids coverage. 2) anybody have an idea how much the robber is getting? I am curious as to what would a teller have on hand usually. Maybe someone knows or has a good guess? 3) yeah I don't get the not posting the pic of the guy with the mask slipping? "

pantherstigers wrote on Dec 2, 2008 1:19 PM:

" i used to be a teller, the robber shouldn't be getting away with anymore than a couple thousand dollars at the most each time. "

timbrackett wrote on Dec 2, 2008 1:39 PM:

" the guy is getting a couple grand at each stop. the police aren't releasing all of the information and, in fact, intentionally released dis-information in this article (in case the robber is reading/watching the news).

i agree with the commenter who said "money can be replaced, lives cannot". one of my roommates/best friends works at a bank in cedar falls and if his bank gets hit i would prefer that this robber walk away with a few thousand dollars and my roommate comes home from work in one piece. the man will eventually be caught. it's only a matter of time. "

waterloo82 wrote on Dec 2, 2008 3:59 PM:

" I work in a financial institution and I see people keep making comments that have to do with a dye pack. The truth is when someone walks up to your window with a note or gun, you do as they say. You don't grab a dye pack or hit the alarm. Any sudden movements could set the guy/girl off. It is clearly obvious that some people posting these comments watch way too much television. When it's a human life at stake it's better to obey the robber. He will get caught, just wait and see. "

Independent wrote on Dec 2, 2008 3:59 PM:

" Newswatcher, this is one of the hardest working bank robbers in Iowa history.

Do you have an alibi for the time of each bank heist? "

JC wrote on Dec 2, 2008 4:24 PM:

" Hello COURIER!?! The article is about Cedar Falls bank robberies...not all robberies in the Cedar Valley. Bank robberies are federal offenses and should not be grouped with neighborhood break-ins. "

homer5r20 wrote on Dec 2, 2008 5:27 PM:

" The CFPD will get their man...They can only work with the evidence they have. "

realityxdose wrote on Dec 2, 2008 5:40 PM:

" I guess everyone that posts on here found out that crime can happen anywhere. Just another day in Cedar Falls, right? "

Newswatcher wrote on Dec 2, 2008 6:54 PM:

" myvoicematterstome and fireball understand my message regarding the vitim-banks' partial responsibility in this happening 4 time!
They can tighten security in several ways. They can help in this with more security cameras around the building.
Locking doors so only one 'unknown' customer can enter at the same time. This wouldn't bother me a bit if I thought it would make it safer for me to go to the bank.
For those of you who think all of the banks in CF have been doing everything they can to prevent this, you are wrong.
Very very wrong.
We used to live in a community that didn't have this robbery problem. That is over now. Once the first robbery happened, the cops AND the banks should have ALL made it impossible for it to happen again.
No hoods.
No hats.
No sunglasses.
No more than 3 people enter at a time.
Camera's outside the entry door of the bank.
A selected employee to watch-guard each customer who enters.
You wimpy people who think it's not partially the banks responsibility need to wake yourself up!
Have some GUTS and CATCH THIS GUY!!!!!! "

Newswatcher wrote on Dec 2, 2008 6:59 PM:

" Independent, aren't you the comedian?
I assure you I will work more hours at my job this week than you will.
Guaranteed!
I honestly take offense that just because you and I differ in our political beliefs that you would imply such a thing as me being the CF Bank Robber.
Low. Very low... "

kris wrote on Dec 2, 2008 8:23 PM:

" waterloo82, not everyone making comments on here are watching too much tv. It is a simple question. I say taser their (deleted). Sometimes a little prevention is in order, wouldnt you start wondering which bank is going to get hit, after say, the third one? Doesnt take CSI to figure that one out. Now, if these happened in a donut shop, they would have had their man by now. "

Stana wrote on Dec 2, 2008 8:45 PM:

" In the evening paper they show his face.... "

Blondie wrote on Dec 2, 2008 10:09 PM:

" Maybe those being critical of the banks and officers should sit outside a bank and call 911 if they see someone walking up and going in with sunglasses and a hood.
Officers and bank employees are Mothers, Fathers, brothers, sisters, uncles aunts, sons, daughters.......in other words they are human and don't have their scripts written for them with tidy little happy endings. "

always ask why wrote on Dec 2, 2008 10:29 PM:

" newswatcher, i seem to recall a blog in a related story about the bank robberies, where i asked a simple question. where does it state that the robber was carrying a weapon or threatened to have one. you then implied that i had something to do with the crimes. something very similar to what independent directed towards you. what does that make you ? low. very low. shoe on the other foot. hypocritical much ? "

chatty1 wrote on Dec 2, 2008 10:44 PM:

" Anybody else remember the really good photo of a guy robbing a bank down somewhere near Iowa City that a retired cop put in for the bank? That photo was a lot better quality than any they've shown from these banks. Maybe they should find out who installed the cameras at that bank and bring him up here. Yes, the photos always show somebody with hoods, scarves, etc.....but they're still not clear photos. Maybe the banks should take some of the money they're making and invest in better cameras. "

oldicehouse wrote on Dec 2, 2008 11:08 PM:

" This guy robs bank,girl friend picks him up. They head back to casino. Live like king and queen for a few days. Go broke,do it again. Stay in that town,milk it for all its worth.Pack up move to next folksy town start all over.Been doing this for years. His name is Cliff hers is Barbie. They drive a older car look like farmers. "

courier_reader921 wrote on Dec 3, 2008 4:32 AM:

" they should install two sets of doors in every entryway to the banks made out of bullet proof glass, as soon as the robber walks out the first set of doors...press a button and they are locked in and trapped like a rat. then the police can catch them when they get there in 10 minutes. "

momwhocares wrote on Dec 3, 2008 5:32 AM:

" oldicehouse...do you have facts, if so you should share them with the police and not be blogging. "

Newswatcher wrote on Dec 3, 2008 7:08 AM:

" always ask why. That wasn't my comment, that was someone elses. I remember reading it and assure you it wasn't me. "

Newswatcher wrote on Dec 3, 2008 7:09 AM:

" always as why;
your lead in with your 'I seem to recall' just says it all about you and your generalizing on here. "

chatty1 wrote on Dec 3, 2008 7:26 AM:

" momwhocares: Obviously oldicehouse is just saying something to be able to say something, otherwise they'd have contacted the CFPD with information so they could get the reward. You darn sure wouldn't tell the world before you told the police. "

loovian wrote on Dec 3, 2008 7:52 AM:

" realityxdose,

Seems the 'just another day' comment loses all impact when not spoken by a *POLICE OFFICER*. I really doubt anyone in CF is going to care you misused that quote, but that is just me. "

oldicehouse wrote on Dec 3, 2008 12:33 PM:

" momwhocares: It seems like a no brainer to me.Search some others areas with bank robberies,that are like W'loo and Cf.
chatty 1: Please don't call my girlfriend and me "they". We are people too. "

Anthony wrote on Dec 3, 2008 3:01 PM:

" interesting, a very similar bank robbery happened in Washington, IA today. Wonder if he has moved on. "

always ask why wrote on Dec 3, 2008 3:13 PM:

" newswatcher, ok, you made me do this.
tues. nov 18th 2008 11:34 a.m.
headline: another bank robbery reported in c.f.
newswatcher wrote on nov 19th 7:07 a.m.
"I'd be investigatin 'always ask why'. He seems to think you can just rob a bank without telling them you have a gun, or showing one. Just walk in with your hands down, no threat at all, just say 'give me the money'?
Were you born yesterday ?"
go to advanced search, type in the headline and read for yourself. are you newswatcher ? are you still denying you wrote this ? did someone else use your screen name and password ? yes, you remember reading it, because, you wrote it. it takes a real man to admit he is wrong and to apologize for it. ... "

chatty1 wrote on Dec 3, 2008 3:38 PM:

" Well now oldicehouse...just what word would you have me use rather than the word "they"? I'm quite aware that you are a person, or people since you say it's two of you using one name and you have the ability to blog. One would think you'd have been referred to as "they" rather than "it" or some other thing. The use of the word "they" when referring to someone else is common. "

Independent wrote on Dec 3, 2008 6:47 PM:

" Newsmiswatcher, is seems I'm not the only one who thinks you mishandle the facts, for your own benefit.

Seems to me, that you are doing the same things as your hero, Rush, the great American divider. "

oldicehouse wrote on Dec 3, 2008 7:10 PM:

" chatty1
It wasn't that you called us "they" it was the tone of you voice. LOL "

Newswatcher wrote on Dec 3, 2008 9:52 PM:

" HAHAHAHAHA~ I love it! I did say investigate always ask why! Yes! I did it! Know why? Because there was humor in the majority of the messages posted at that time, following the first robbery. You took the time to look back to find my entry, so go back again and read all of them. They are a far cry from the serious tone of all the messages on this site, following 4 robberies. The first robbery didn't seem quite as worrisome as 4, therefore a little humor seemed OK at the time to several different people writing.
Of course reading that Independent got his rocks off with this?
That's so sweet! I'm so happy to feed him a treat.
BTW, look back at some of my other entries, Independent; I don't listen to Rush. Don't even know when or where he's on.
My point being that there were several humor attempts in the entries following the first robbery. You know that, always ask why. That was some of the flavor of that entire page (go back and read them all).
Now, after 4 robberies, it's not funny, nor is it, or should it be political. That's why I thought it was over the top at THIS TIME for Independent to ask if I had an alibi for all 4 robbery times, just because he hates my differing political views. The humor phase of this is over. Maybe you aren't mature enough to see the difference in the tones of these varying article entries and the fact that the political differences are totally irrelevant. I ask of 'always ask why' to deny the difference in how many entries were humorous then and now. "

Purple Panther wrote on Dec 3, 2008 10:32 PM:

" Funny how the Cedar Falls police can't catch a guy who has robbed four banks but they can bust some people for some measly pot.

'Tis a crazy world we live in... "

always ask why wrote on Dec 4, 2008 10:22 AM:

" newswatcher, no, thats fine. your response was exactly as i expected. "

Newswatcher wrote on Dec 4, 2008 12:21 PM:

" Thank you, aaw, I'm glad I was correct on this. "

always ask why wrote on Dec 4, 2008 7:30 PM:

" newswatcher, i never said you were correct, in fact, you were wrong. i just said that your response is not a suprise to me. it is clear that your going to be right no matter what anyone says. its a waste of time. "

Newswatcher wrote on Dec 4, 2008 10:27 PM:

" Thanks again, aaw. "

Bankteller wrote on Dec 5, 2008 10:43 PM:

" Some of these comments just amaze me....Purple Panter...this robber has been in the process of the actual robbery maybe a total of ten minutes for all 4 robberies combined, your buddies have apparently been not only smoking but also selling the "measly Pot" for quite a while, maybe if your boys had smoked and sold pot for a total of only ten minutes then they would be playing in the playoff game tomorrow rather than hanging over the rail. Be real. As far as the people who seem to think it is the banks fault or that the tellers need to be doing more, you are flipping nuts and have obviously never worked in a financial institution. There is no way of knowing whether or not the robber has a weapon, so you do what ever they ask, something that everyone can do for us bank employees is this.....
Tell your friends, your family, your co-workers, anyone you can think of.....take off all hats and glasses when entering a bank. We have the big sign that says "no hats or glasses" but noone pays any attention to it. COMMON SENSE PEOPLE!!!!!!!! Several times a day we will hear the door open and we will look up and here comes someone..... stocking hat pulled down, glasses on, and coat zipped up around chin.....its not cold inside the bank, our is at 75 all the time, take the crap off before entering. THINK!!!! "

Newswatcher wrote on Dec 6, 2008 9:27 AM:

" Bankteller,
I think you misunderstand some of us saying the banks need to help out here. Or perhaps we're not explaining it very well.
It's not the Bankteller's that we think aren't doing their jobs, it's the upper management who should implement strict rules and guidelines at a time when things are no longer "typical Cedar Falls work day". Don't take it personally. In fact, I think your bosses should be protecting YOU more by doing such a thing. Increase security, post obvious camera's at the entrance and that scan the parking lot. Dress codes can easily be followed. NO hoods and sunglasses. If we can't see your face, you can't come in.
Think of yourself as someone who deserves for your bosses to protect YOU and our community better. That's my point. "

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