CRIME, POLICE + COURTS
Salt Lake City man accused of robbing the same bank three times in eight weeks
Dec 8, 2020, 6:12 PM | Updated: Dec 30, 2022, 11:22 am
(Investigators on the scene of the US Bank on Main Street in Salt Lake City after it was robed for the third time. Credit: Paul Nelson)
(Investigators on the scene of the US Bank on Main Street in Salt Lake City after it was robed for the third time. Credit: Paul Nelson)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A suspected robber may have been too attracted to one specific bank in Salt Lake City. Officers arrested the man after what is reportedly his third robbery at the same bank since mid-October.
Investigators say the most recent robbery happened before noon at the US Bank on Main Street by 1500 South.
Salt Lake City Police Lieutenant Brian Sloan said, “The person came in and handed a note, but no weapon was seen.”
The suspect has been identified as Edward Begley, 64, from Salt Lake City. A statement from the FBI reported Begley confessed to the robbery after he was arrested, and “also admitted to robbing at least two other banks, and possibly more.”
Even before investigators said Begley was connected to all three robberies, police were already saying the methods the robber used was similar in all three cases, as was the getaway. They say Begley would hand the tellers a similar note, then drive away in a nearby getaway car.
Federal agents are accusing Begley of the following robberies…
- October 13, 2020 – Wells Fargo Bank at 2001 South Main Street in Salt Lake City
- October 13, 2020 – U.S. Bank at 1575 South Main Street in Salt Lake City
- November 30, 2020 – U.S. Bank at 1575 South Main Street in Salt Lake City
- December 8, 2020 – U.S. Bank at 1575 South Main Street in Salt Lake City
The tellers reportedly did exactly as they were asked, and were able to give officers a lot of details about Begley.
(Officers surrounding Begley’s vehicle as they conduct their “felony stop” on State Street near 1300 South. Credit: Paul Nelson)
Sloan said, “They gave us a great description of the suspect and the vehicle, which was really helpful in us spotting him.”
The car was located just blocks away on State Street near 1300 South. Police say Begley was in a car with license plates from Washington, and it wasn’t registered in his name.
“We had a lot of officers in the area, so we did what we call a ‘felony stop’ with quite a few officers involved. He gave up peacefully and didn’t cause any problems,” Sloan said.
Investigators are giving the bank employees high praise for keeping their cool in this situation.
They say anyone who is being robbed should avoid fighting back since that’s when people get hurt. The employees also emphasized it’s best to comply with the demands, remember as many details as possible then call the police when it’s safe.
Sloan said, “There is no amount of property that’s worth your life.”
