• Virginia bank robber claims he's innocent because he said "Please". He also posted pictures and vide
    32 replies, posted
[t]http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.2213546.1431000574!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/article_970/instagram8n-1-web.jpg?enlarged[/t] [QUOTE]He swindled them with charm. A Virginia man who posted footage of himself allegedly holding up a bank on Instagram claims it wasn't actually a robbery—because he was polite, didn't wear a mask and filmed the entire incident. Dominyk Antonio Alfonseca was arrested just 20 minutes after his alleged heist of a TowneBank branch in Virginia Beach on Monday afternoon, reports The Virginian-Pilot. The 23-year-old allegedly walked into the financial institution, which he told reporters he chose because it was the "fanciest" one around, and handed over a note. "I need 150,000 Bands Right NOW!! Please Police take 3 to 4 minites to get here, I would appriceate if you Ring the alarm a minute after I am gone ... Make sure the money doesn't BLOW UP ON MY WAY OUT;-) (sic)" it read. [...] Alfonseca was detained shortly after and charged with robbery. But he claimed in an interview with WAVY-TV from city jail on Wednesday that what he did wasn't actually a crime. He said the fact that he was polite and used "please" in the note, did not wear a mask and recorded the incident meant he was not guilty. "I'm basically asking permission for money. In my eyes, I did not commit a robbery, and I feel I'm being charged without reason," he said.[/QUOTE] [url]http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/va-man-robs-bank-posts-videos-heist-instagram-cops-article-1.2213548[/url]
"If you ask permission to do something, it's not a crime." how delusional can you get
I mean, it doesn't say he had a weapon, and he did pretty much set himself up to be caught, so all things considered the fact that he got the money at all is what's weird about this to me. I mean, I guess that tellers are taught to give in to any demands and that police will handle it shortly after, which is what happened, but I imagine most tellers would tell the guy to fuck off after realizing he wasn't a threat.
Just when you think you know how stupid people can really be, there is this guy to remind you otherwise.
This is bizarre.[img]http://i.imgur.com/9H7V7Ae.jpg[/img]I mean, is this really a robbery? He asked for money, he got them, and walked off. He didn't even say it's a robbery, even tho the implication is pretty clear. He apparently didn't threaten anybody, through words nor through a weapon or anything. The teller should have been like "uhhhhhh, no. get out" and by the looks and sound of it, he would do exactly that.I dunno, I think he should be charged with causing unrest and maaaybe fraud kinda, because he misused the fact the tellers are instructed to just give in to demands? But how can you call somebody a robber simply because they asked for money (the word please doesn't really play a role) and nothing else?
[QUOTE=valkery;47679719]I mean, it doesn't say he had a weapon, and he did pretty much set himself up to be caught, so all things considered the fact that he got the money at all is what's weird about this to me. I mean, I guess that tellers are taught to give in to any demands and that police will handle it shortly after, which is what happened, but I imagine most tellers would tell the guy to fuck off after realizing he wasn't a threat.[/QUOTE] I served a bit of time with a guy that robbed a bank in a similar way, with a polite note, and he got out with a fair bit of money. He got caught obviously, but he got the minimum sentence for the charge, mostly because he didn't use a weapon or pretend to have one.
[QUOTE=Awesomecaek;47679748]This is bizarre.I mean, is this really a robbery? He asked for money, he got them, and walked off. He didn't even say it's a robbery, even tho the implication is pretty clear. [/QUOTE] This is like that episode of It's Always Sunny in PL all over again.
[QUOTE=valkery;47679719]I mean, it doesn't say he had a weapon, and he did pretty much set himself up to be caught, so all things considered the fact that he got the money at all is what's weird about this to me. I mean, I guess that tellers are taught to give in to any demands and that police will handle it shortly after, which is what happened, but I imagine most tellers would tell the guy to fuck off after realizing he wasn't a threat.[/QUOTE] To be honest though, they probably weren't sure if he had a gun or not. Not to mention no sane person would do this. They wouldn't tell someone to fuck off if they thought they might blow their heads off.
The teller might have interpreted that last part of the note as a bomb threat. The language and the way the size of the writing changes could look intimidating.
[QUOTE=Duskin;47679796]To be honest though, they probably weren't sure if he had a gun or not. Not to mention no sane person would do this. They wouldn't tell someone to fuck off if they thought they might blow their heads off.[/QUOTE] Well okay but how can you convict for something they never displayed any intent to harm, or conditions or anything? It wasn't even "give me the money or something bad will happen", which can already be considered a threat. Nothing he had done (at least as far as the article goes) has been threatening in any way. I understand we can't just let people do that as it's a disruption and is bound to waste police resources, but I really struggle to justify calling it a robbery.
I mean... He probably has a case... No threat, and it can be argued he asked and not demanded. Will be interesting. Watch him get charged with aggressive panhandling or something
[QUOTE=valkery;47679719]I mean, it doesn't say he had a weapon, and he did pretty much set himself up to be caught, so all things considered the fact that he got the money at all is what's weird about this to me. I mean, I guess that tellers are taught to give in to any demands and that police will handle it shortly after, which is what happened, but I imagine most tellers would tell the guy to fuck off after realizing he wasn't a threat.[/QUOTE] You can rob a bank with literally anything or nothing and they will give it to you. Then they call the police. Banks care more about their customers and employees than the easily-replaced money stolen from an easily caught criminal.
Either way he walked out with money that wasn't his? It's not unheard of for people to rob banks this way, although they usually have a hand in the coat to imply that they have a weapon while handing the note over (which results in armed robbery charges), so it's not like there's zero precedent to refer to. I'm sure that most banks train their tellers how to react to this kind of situation.
I get that he's still committed a crime because the bank tellers were under the assumption he was armed, but its still very bizar and I hope they don't throw the book at him, though bank Robert is basically 20 years
[QUOTE=Sableye;47679914]I get that he's still committed a crime because the bank tellers were under the assumption he was armed, but its still very bizar and I hope they don't throw the book at him, though bank Robert is basically 20 years[/QUOTE] He committed a crime regardless if they thought he had a gun on him or not. If you walked into a bank and demanded money unarmed youre still attempting robbery
[QUOTE=Arc Nova;47679929]He committed a crime regardless if they thought he had a gun on him or not. If you walked into a bank and demanded money unarmed youre still attempting robbery[/QUOTE] Which is why there's separate charges in most jurisdictions for armed/aggravated robbery on top of the regular robbery charges
[QUOTE=Arc Nova;47679929]He committed a crime regardless if they thought he had a gun on him or not. If you walked into a bank and demanded money unarmed youre still attempting robbery[/QUOTE] [quote] [url]http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/robbery[/url] Robbery The taking of money or goods in the possession of another, from his or her person or immediate presence, by force or intimidation. Robbery is a crime of theft and can be classified as Larceny by force or by threat of force. The elements of the crime of robbery include the use of force or intimidation and all the elements of the crime of larceny. The penalty for robbery is always more severe than for larceny.[/quote] How exactly does this classify as robbery? [editline]7th May 2015[/editline] If anything, I would be inclined to agree it's a hella weird case of larceny.
[QUOTE=Awesomecaek;47679967]How exactly does this classify as robbery? [editline]7th May 2015[/editline] If anything, I would be inclined to agree it's a hella weird case of larceny.[/QUOTE] Because they are trained to assume you're a threat?? Bank robbery is defined as entering a bank when it is open and obtaining money either by using force or the threat of force. Like i said banks care more about their customers and employees than the easily-replaced money stolen from an easily caught criminal.
[QUOTE=Arc Nova;47679982]Because they are trained to assume you're a threat?? Bank robbery is defined as entering a bank when it is open and obtaining money either by using force or the threat of force. Like i said banks care more about their customers and employees than the easily-replaced money stolen from an easily caught criminal.[/QUOTE] He didn't use force nor a threat of forceThe fact somebody else assumes something doesn't mean it's my intention, though?
[QUOTE=Awesomecaek;47680001]The fact somebody else assumes something doesn't mean it's my intention, though?[/QUOTE] Ok go in to a bank and demand money from the teller unarmed and let me know what happens. I gurantee they will give you the money no questions asked and then the police will be there shortly
[QUOTE=Arc Nova;47680009]Ok go in to a bank and demand money from the teller unarmed and let me know what happens[/QUOTE] Here? I will be told to fuck off by the teller, police will pick me up and test me on alcohol, and tell me not to do that. It has happened to some drunk bloke like half a year back.[QUOTE=Arc Nova;47680009]I gurantee they will give you the money no questions asked and then the police will be there shortly[/QUOTE] But that's besides the point! They can do whatever they want, that doesn't change what I did or didn't do! [editline]7th May 2015[/editline] If you drive your car near a crosswalk and somebody sprints towards the crosswalk, you swerve your car and hit another car, even tho the person managed to stop before entering the road, you aren't going to get any kind of legal responsibility out of that person either, even if your reaction was understandable and perhaps the only right one. Still, you can't judge intent based on someone's assumptions, even if that's the assumption they are trained to take.
[QUOTE=Awesomecaek;47680023]Here? I will be told to fuck off by the teller, police will pick me up and test me on alcohol, and tell me not to do that. It has happened to some drunk bloke like half a year back. But that's besides the point! They can do whatever they want, that doesn't change what I did or didn't do! .[/QUOTE] Well that teller is dumb as bricks, theyre trained to hand it over as to not put themselves and customers at risk. Wouldnt want that bank to be my bank. Basically this; [QUOTE=Duskin;47679796]To be honest though, they probably weren't sure if he had a gun or not. Not to mention no sane person would do this. They wouldn't tell someone to fuck off if they thought they might blow their heads off.[/QUOTE] [QUOTE=Awesomecaek;47680023] If you drive your car near a crosswalk and somebody sprints towards the crosswalk, you swerve your car and hit another car, even tho the person managed to stop before entering the road, you aren't going to get any kind of legal responsibility out of that person either, even if your reaction was understandable and perhaps the only right one. Still, you can't judge intent based on someone's assumptions, even if that's the assumption they are trained to take.[/QUOTE] This isnt even comparable??? if someone demands money from a teller the tellers first reaction should not be "lol hes bluffing!" Bottomline; robbery happens when theres a threat behind the demand. Otherwise its just theft.. When you walk in and demand money that isnt yours from the bank you are automatically assumed to be a threat, thats it.
and it's not like he didn't know what he's doing is illegal, what with the begging not to call the police until after he's left lol
[QUOTE=venom;47680115]and it's not like he didn't know what he's doing is illegal, what with the begging not to call the police until after he's left lol[/QUOTE] Ah but he didn't beg, he just said he'd appreciate it. I wonder, though. If this constitutes as a robbery, where the line is exactly. Because why isn't the teller at fault for giving money away to someone who only asked I would absolutely say this guy has a defense and a good case if not for the fact that the first line reads more like a demand than a request
I don't think it should be counted as Robbery. If I walk up to some guy and ask him. "Can I please have £20" that's not robbery is it?
Who here is a lawyer I need someone smart to say what will happen
[QUOTE=nuttyboffin;47680324]I don't think it should be counted as Robbery. If I walk up to some guy and ask him. "Can I please have £20" that's not robbery is it?[/QUOTE] Except he didnt ask, he demanded. " i need 150,000 bands now!" [editline]7th May 2015[/editline] [QUOTE=TheTalon;47680283] Because why isn't the teller at fault for giving money away to someone w/QUOTE] Why would you risk harm to yourself and customers?? This is exactly what tellers are trained to do [editline]7th May 2015[/editline] [QUOTE=TheTalon;47680283] Because why isn't the teller at fault for giving money away to someone [/QUOTE] Why would you risk harm to yourself and customers?? This is exactly what tellers are trained to do. If you ever worked in retail theres a policy in most stores that if someone is shoplifting you dont prevent them you just call the police. Its a matter of safety. The bank can get the money back easily and the criminal can be caught easily [editline]7th May 2015[/editline] My post is broken and i cant edit it help
[QUOTE=Trogdon;47680348]Who here is a lawyer I need someone smart to say what will happen[/QUOTE] Tempted to call and ask my lawyer lol But it may come off as suspicious esp since I'm still on prob lmao
[QUOTE=venom;47680818]Tempted to call and ask my lawyer lol But it may come off as suspicious esp since I'm still on prob lmao[/QUOTE] What'd you do?
[QUOTE=venom;47680818]Tempted to call and ask my lawyer lol But it may come off as suspicious esp since I'm still on prob lmao[/QUOTE] Tell him you are asking for a friend
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