Robbers Must Not Care About Haul That Much If They're Throwing Cash Out Of The Window

What’s a bunch of suspected bank robbers to do when the cops are closing in during a high-speed chase in South Los Angeles? Apparently that is the perfect time to hurl your ill-gotten gains out of the window and make it rain cash. The up side for passersby — free cash! And if the ensuing melee gets in the way of the cops closing in, perhaps that makes for a good getaway tactic. But also, really dangerous to have people diving for free money in the streets.

Here’s how it all went down, according to the Los Angeles Times: The two suspects reportedly hit up a Bank of America with two other armed men around 10 a.m. in an SUV that had been reported stolen. The Sheriff’s Department was able to find the suspects pretty quickly and give chase, at which point, two of the four men jumped out of the car and tried to run away on foot.

The two men left in the car then led cops on a merry chase from freeways to side streets as they made their way to South L.A. As they entered a residential neighborhood with more than a dozen cop cars hot on their tail, a hand with a fistful of money suddenly appeared out the window and sent money flying on the breeze. More kept coming out as passersby caught on and started scrambling into the street to scoop up the dough.

 Sure, it probably wasn’t an act of generosity, but locals are pretty pleased about the shared wealth.

“It’s our neighborhood stimulus package!” one onlooker joked to the LAT, while another neighbor added, “Kids were smiling like it was Christmas.”

But cops don’t want these men seen in the same light as that other guy who robbed from the rich to give to the poor, said a police spokesman.

“Robin Hood is not how I would describe these guys,” he said. “It’s just the worst side of human nature.” He added, “It’s a true blessing if no one was seriously hurt.”

The bustling streets ended up hampering the getaway vehicle, however, and the SUV got stuck behind a truck. The cops closed in and that’s all she wrote.

Cops are now urging onlookers to turn in any cash they may have scooped up during the chase, and say they will use video to find anyone who keeps the ill-gotten gains.

Robbery suspects toss cash into air during pursuit [Los Angeles Times]

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