Fencing Bank robber

[RedsectorA]

A interesting bit o' news this morning! Here in Livonia Michigan, where the Schoolcraft fencing club is located, there was a bank robbery by a man wearing a fencing mask.

What, someone couldnt afford the dues this semester?
just kidding!

[DJ Apostrophe]

the person wasn't stupid enough to wear a lexan mask I hope. watch for people in your club to start getting all new fie stuff... then be suspicious seriously though... if you are a fencer... and you rob a bank in a fencing mask... thats gonna be a bad idea... the fencing community isnt that big... it probably wouldnt take much effort for the cops to figure out who did it.

[Moonitic]

Oh my gosh! I hadn't heard about that! How FUNNY!

Doug, we've got to drop those class fees, quick!

Or maybe it was someone who was upset because the class was too full, & wanted to afford RFC or something.

[HilandDoug]

The sad thing is, when I'm showing the mask to the beginner's class, I actually say it's bullet proof, so if you're gonna rob a bank, wear a fencing mask! I'll bet the reward money I could see the bank videotape and ID the robber (if he or she were a former, or current, student). Also, as mentioned, it's a pretty small fencing community around here, so if we all get a chance to see the mask via videotape, we might be able to recognize a mark on it or something.

[MikeHarm]

If you can get the cops to give us a picture to scan in post it here. I bet Doug's right about us being able to ID them. And if the robber is a lefty their number is up for sure.

Mike

[HilandDoug]

Mike, I don't think the robber used a fencing weapon during the robbery. I was thinking that if we could see the fencing mask we could really narrow it down. For instance, if it's a Santelli practice mask with a snap-in bib and the letters SC on the tongue, it's probably one of my former students. I could probably recognize them if so, just by their build and bearing.

[MikeHarm]

What I was trying to say was that I think if they held their gun in a manner similar to their fencing guard it might give us another clue in addition to seeing the mask and their build.

Mike

[HilandDoug]

Ah! Now I see! I think the Michigan Division should band together and look at any pictures they could show us of the robber, so the cops can nab this guy before he gives fencing a bad name!

[MStaubitz]

Although I have a mask from SC on loan right now: IT WASN'T ME!!!

Maybe we should check the masks from the bunny fencing booths at the Renaissance Festival and see if there are any missing there... Maybe one of the audience members from the demos took your advice to heart...

[Moonitic]

hmm...the game is afoot!

If there is any way we could help the police, perhaps we should. Speaking as a member of the fencing publicity committee, it would be great PR for us.

[HilandDoug]

Does anyone have the complete story here? Joel says at the beginning of the post that it was a bank in Livonia, but one of my co-workers was saying that the bank was in Northville. I'd like to know so I can ask if I can be of help. I grew up in Northville and live in Livonia right across the street from the police station.

As a side note, a humourous story: Tuesday after work I was sitting in the backyard polishing my weapons (so the dirt from RenFest doesn't set in). I had my brass cup hilt in my lap, my Pappenheimer on the picinic table, my basket-hilt broadsword on my fencing bag, a bunch of foils, epees and sabres poking out of my bag, and worse, my FENCING MASK clearly visable on the table! And my neighbor who lives behind me was spying on me from the bushes behind the fence! Her son came out in the yard, saw his Mom, and began yelling, "Mom! Mom! Mom!" She whispered harshly, "WHAT?!?" and, "shhhhh!" So I look over, and she's slinking away from the fence so I won't see her. I had to chuckle, thinking she's now going into the house to call the cops and collect a reward! She looked just like this:

[Moonitic]

Oh...that's the funniest story I've heard in a long time!

C'mon Doug, fess up...SC isn't paying you enough for all those students, are they?

[HilandDoug]

Without divulging any specific numbers, I will say that I am paid handsomely to teach beginning and advanced fencing at Schoolcraft. How many other instructors have not one, but two Porsches?

[HilandDoug]

I called the Detroit FBI office and left my contact with the media person, who is out until Friday the 7th. I told her, via voicemail, that we'd love to help nab the perpetrator, if possible, and left her some contact info. I hope she calls! It would be pretty nifty if we fencers could help catch a bank robber! I'll keep the board posted on any developements.

[Moonitic]

Great, Doug! For further reference: I have a contact at the Observer & Eccentric newspapers. She's the Community editor.

This has the makings of a great novel.

[lochinvar]

Yeah..."Tuesday the Rabbi Went Fencing"

[HilandDoug]

Well, I just got off the phone with the Detroit FBI Bank Robbery Specialist. He informs me that they have nabbed 2 bank robbers from last weekend, banks in Livonia and Northville, and that NEITHER of them wore a fencing mask at any time. He is also not aware of ANY bank robbery that occurred where the perp was wearing a fencing mask.

Joel, where did you get your information?

[MikeHarm]

Its just as well that its just another of Joel's tall tales, I was a little worried that if the robber was in one of your classes he'd go after you as soon as everyone started talking about your plans to unmask his secret identity.

Mike

[Moonitic]

"another of Joel's tall tales"

Rude much?

[MikeHarm]

Ah, the sweet smell of the start of a new Moonitic flamewar on fencing net to start off the new season. But I'm not interested in quarreling with you for now, I'm saving my mental focus for training up for the competitions this year.

Mike

[ 09-08-2001: Message edited by: MikeHarm ]