January 1, Man Robs Bank for $1 Because He Wanted to Go to Federal Prison, Police Say

A Utah man was arrested after he politely robbed a bank for just $1, and then waited in the lobby for law enforcement to arrive because he wanted to go to federal prison, police say.

Donald Matthew Santacroce, 65, was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on a robbery charge, the Salt Lake City Police Department (SLCPD) said.

Santacroce entered a Wells Fargo branch in downtown Salt Lake City at 10:33 a.m. on Monday and handed a teller a note.

“Please pardon me for doing this but this is a robbery. Please give me $1. Thank you,” the note read, according to a police booking affidavit obtained by local outlet KSL.

Recently, our patrol officers and detectives assigned to the Robbery and Violent Crime Squad arrested a 65-year-old man accused of robbing a bank in downtown.

For more information, please read our press release:https://t.co/nnTTF5Xb7t#SaltLakeCity #SLC #SLCPD pic.twitter.com/NvKRNV3aqd

— Salt Lake City Police (@slcpd) March 8, 2023

The teller gave Santacroce the dollar and asked him to leave, but he refused and told the employee to call the police, per the affidavit.

“Donald sat down in the bank lobby and waited for police to arrive. While waiting for police, Donald made a statement to the victims that they are lucky (he) didn’t have a gun because it was taking the police so long to get there. At this point the branch manager said she ushered all of her employees into a back room for their safety where she locked the doors,” the affidavit reads, according to KSL.

Responding officers and a patrol sergeant “safely” arrested Santacroce, the SLCPD said. No injuries were reported.

Santacroce told officers he robbed the bank “because he wanted to get arrested and go to federal prison. Donald stated that if he gets out of jail, he will rob another bank and ask for more money next time trying to get the desired result of going to federal prison,” the arrest affidavit reads.

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Sources: KSL.com, SLCPD