A thief seeking to rob a Wells Fargo bank branch in Hobe Sound, Fla., (near West Palm Beach) found his objective made easier by a set of unlocked doors after business hours. Nick Viviani reported the security breach for MSN, using Facebook information posted by the Martin County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO).
Wells Fargo Branch Breached: Unlocked Doors Raise Security Concerns
According to the MCSO, the attempted burglary took place on a Saturday, when masked suspect Colton Vanhonhenstein allegedly walked through the unsecured doors of a closed Wells Fargo branch at around 7 p.m. The MCSO explained that the suspect “…went from drawer to drawer and cabinet to cabinet but to no avail,” leaving the bank empty-handed, his face still covered.
Deputies were alerted to the break-in after a delayed notification from the onsite alarm.
“Robbery in Progress?” Bank Robbery Definition Exposes Loophole
The video monitoring system reported a “robbery-in-progress,” though the particulars didn’t support that assessment.
As clarified by the MCSO in its post:
- “Robbery” involves taking something by force or threat.
- “In progress” means what it sounds like.
The officers noted that, given these definitions, Vanhonhenstein did not commit robbery. Further, the incident was not actively occurring when deputies arrived.
The MCSO commented on the alarm company’s delayed response: “Why the doors were unlocked and why the alarm monitoring company called in an ‘in-progress robbery’ at a closed bank one hour prior, is still under investigation.”
From Mask to Mugshot: Florida Man Arrested for Wells Fargo Break-In
The breakthrough in the case came from surveillance footage at a gas station across the street from the Wells Fargo branch. The footage showed Vanhonhenstein buying a mask just before the break-in. Deputies used this evidence to identify and locate him.
Days later, Vanhonhenstein was taken into custody.
As the MCSO pointed out, “He was charged with burglary, despite the fact the only thing he walked away with was the mask that set him back five bucks.”
More details on this unusual bank robbery can be found on MSN.
