Alleged Robber's Plan Went Wrong After He Reportedly Forgot Keys in Bank

A man has been accused of aggravated robbery in University Heights, Ohio, but things did not seem to go according to plan after he left his keys behind and dropped money when he fled.

A police report seen by Newsweek noted that officers with the University Heights Police Department were called to a Citizens Bank location due to a robbery in progress on Friday, February 25.

Although FBI statistics show that robberies, in general, have declined since the start of the pandemic, Capital Counselor says most in-person bank robberies do happen on Fridays, and cyberattacks on banks have spiked by 238 percent.

"The suspect passed a note to the teller indicating he had a gun and demanded money," the report stated. "No gun was seen."

The police report stated that the suspect, identified as Brandon Sanders, 28, was given $458 from the teller drawer. He left on foot.

"Immediately after the suspect leaving, it was discovered that he left a set of car keys on the counter in the bank," the report stated. "The suspect attempted to get back into the bank to retrieve the keys, but the bank had already been locked due to the robbery."

Sanders reportedly fled in the direction of a garage but dropped money as he ran. Kinley said someone found and returned $46, which was taken as evidence.

Although police searched the area with the help of a police K9, they were unable to immediately locate Sanders.

Because he left his keys behind, Lieutenant Todd Kinley, the department's investigative bureau commander, said they were able to locate his car and take it into custody.

Following an investigation conducted with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and a regional office's task force for the U.S. Marshals Service, police arrested Sanders for aggravated robbery on Monday, February 28.

Kinley told Newsweek there was no physical altercation or injuries.

This was not the only odd alleged bank robbery that has taken place.

Newsweek previously reported that a man was accused of robbing a bank one day and then attempted to rob it again the next day in Southern California.

Officials with the Fountain Valley Police Department said that the suspect demanded cash from the teller. Once he obtained the cash, he left before law enforcement arrived.

Although they did not make an arrest that day, they identified the suspect—Samuel Brown.

Less than 24 hours later, police were called back to the bank to respond to another reported robbery.

Upon their arrival, they detained Brown and took him to jail.

The National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) outlined some security measures that may deter robbery attempts at banks.

Having physical security systems, for example, can be effective. Devices like locking mechanisms, properly installed interior and exterior lighting and bandit barriers may help.

Bandit barriers, in particular, are made from bullet-resistant glass and they separate bank tellers from a customer.

"These barriers prevent 'counter-jumpers' from easily gaining access to tellers and cash," officials with the NCUA said. "Although they are expensive, the use of these devices can significantly deter or reduce robbery attempts."

There are also different forms of surveillance systems that can be implemented.

Greeters may monitor the area for suspicious behavior, cameras can help assist in the apprehension of robbers and an alarm system may notify local law enforcement.