http://www.boston.com/news/daily/02/handwriting.htm

Bad handwriting bungles robbery attempt

By Associated Press, 1/02/02

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. -- Never underestimate the importance of good handwriting.

A bank robber's badly written note sabotaged his robbery attempt Monday, causing the panicked man to instead hit another bank across the street minutes later, police said.

It all started when the man entered Bank United in this Fort Lauderdale suburb and handed the teller a note.

Unfortunately for the robber, the teller was unable to read the note and asked the man what he wanted, Capt. Chris Hock said.

Hock said the man then offered spoken demands, but the teller was unable to understand the man's mix of Spanish and English. A commotion ensued and the man hurriedly left the bank empty-handed.

Ten minutes later the man robbed a SouthTrust Bank across the street, using the same tactics with a more legible note. The teller gave the man some cash and he left. No one was injured and no one at the bank saw any weapons.

As of Tuesday, the robber remained at large.

-- Anonymous, January 02, 2002