Bank Robber Arrested After Teller Locks Self In Vault: Report

SHOREWOOD, WI — Authorities in Shorewood say an accused bank robber had been out of jail for less than 48 hours before he attempted to hold up the North Shore Bank on N. Oakland Ave.

Victor P. Drake, 23, Milwaukee, has been charged in court with attempted robbery of a financial institution and is being held on a $5,000 cash bond. Drake's preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 14.

According to a criminal complaint filed in Milwaukee County, a North Shore Bank told police that at just before 3 p.m. on Feb. 22, Drake came into the bank wearing sunglasses, a baseball cap and a backpack. He reportedly asked about opening account.

Investigators say Drake spent several minutes signing papers in his own name when he handed the teller a note that read:

“I need 250K in all $100 bills. No dye or trackers! I’m armed to the tee!!! Don’t act nervous or tell anyone. Tell I kill your whole family. P.S. I just got out of Prison Tues. Ricky B”

According to the criminal complaint, the teller read the note and wrote a response on it on a different piece of paper, stating that she didn’t have that much money here and asking how much he wanted.

Investigators said that Drake wrote “50K” on the envelope. The teller reportedly took the envelope with her into the bank vault and locked herself and the only other bank
employee inside the vault, and called police.

According to reports, it wasn't too much later before Shorewood Police arrived at the bank where they found Drake still wearing the sunglasses and baseball cap. When officers arrested him, officers said they found Drake's original note to the teller.

If convicted, Drake faces up to 25 years behind bars.