Plastic Toy Gun
Policing Poland - Toy Guns And Polish Heroes
Warsaw, Poland 17 January 2010 - Toy guns were not enough to stop Polish heroes from running down bank robbers in Poland at the start of an exciting weekend that has seen two bank robberies thwarted thanks to the bravery and wit of uncommon people.
One would-be bandit, a 26-year-old man from the Silesia region in Poland, entered a bank dressed in hooded dark clothing with a scarf covering his face and demanded money from the bank teller. He threatened that he was armed.
The teller gave the robber some money, and pleased with a good days work, the robber turned to exit the building, only to be overpowered by bank customers.
They found that the gun the robber claimed to have was nothing more than a toy that shoots plastic pellets.
It is likely that the same toy was used in at least a dozen successful bank robberies in the area that the man was proven to be involved in, as well as potentially many more, since June 2009. He faces 12 years in jail.
Another two half-baked crooks, both armed, entered a wholesale business in Lódz and threatened three female employees. The women turned over possibly up to 100,000 PLN, according to an unknown and unverified source of the Polish Press Agency (PAP), which money the men put into a box before departing the premises.
They left on foot and but were pursued by some of the wholesaler's employees.
A 24-year-old driver of a Honda noticed the unusual scene from his car and intervened, chasing the men with his car, driving up onto the sidewalk and putting a sudden end to the chase.
After they were apprehended it turned out their weapons were a gas gun and a replica Walther that, like the one used in the Silesian bank robberies, shoots plastic bullets.
Both men have been charged with robbery with a dangerous tool and may be sentenced to up to 15 years imprisonment.
One of the men was previously charged and had a suspended sentence.
Both stories have their heroes and those heroes will get their reward.
The two bank clients who overpowered their bank robber are promised a reward by the local police and the Honda driver will receive a bravery award from the Lódz Police.
Citizens are warned, however, that if someone threatens you with what LOOKS to be, or MAY be, a gun, to assume that it IS a gun. And act appropriately.
By Victoria Ziarkowski
Freelance Writer
Do you know anyone who might be interested in this information? Use the links below to publish on Twitter and Facebook.
Share This On Twitter Share This On Facebook
We also have an Amazon Affiliate Link should you feel like ordering yourself a present from Amazon and crediting us with a tiny commission on the transaction (you pay the same, we get a cut from Amazon). It helps us support this service.
