Bungling bank robber used fingers under his T-shirt in attempted stick-up
Man jailed for nearly five years after first attempt goes wrong but next one succeeds
A robber who used his fingers under his T-shirt to simulate a weapon failed miserably in his first attempt to scare a bank teller into giving him money.
The teller didn't properly read Chan Lap-keung's note demanding HK$50,000 and, thinking he was just trying to withdraw money from his account, asked for his passbook, a court heard yesterday.
But Chan, 49, was more successful on his next attempt, escaping with HK$10,500, Mr Justice Alan Wright was told.
The events were related by prosecutor Bernard Ryan in the Court of First Instance after Chan pleaded guilty to one charge of robbery and one of attempted robbery. He was jailed for four years and eight months.
Ryan said Chan made his first attempt at the Bank of China's Kwun Tong branch on November 30, 2010. He did not reply when the teller asked for his passbook and left empty-handed.
Ten minutes later, Chan went to a nearby branch of the Bank of Communications where the teller, frightened by his note - "Robbery, need fifty thousand dollars" - handed over HK$10,500.