Practical Joke Gets Bank Customer Arrested
A man couldn’t understand why the teller at a bank drive-in window gave him $1,575 when all he asked for was a deposit slip. He was really shocked when police arrested him.
William Baitinger was the victim of a practical joke by a co-worker, Alvin A. Blome, Police Lt. Jon Wainwright said. Blome was charged with disorderly conduct.
Blome was in front of Baitinger at a bank’s drive-in line Friday. He placed a note in the cash drawer saying he had a bomb and demanding money, Wainwright said.
Blome thought Baitinger would open the drawer and see the note, but Baitinger asked the teller for a deposit slip instead. When the teller went to place the deposit slip in the drawer, she saw the note and handed over the money, Wainwright said.
The teller called police, who arrested Baitinger. He was freed when Blome called the station.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
