Man Returns Cash Thrown From Vehicle After Bank Robbery

By Patrick Healy, NBC Los Angeles

In downtown Los Angeles, police chased four suspected bank robbers in a pursuit that ended with the suspects tossing money out the window. The lure of money caused people to line the streets looking for cash, creating an obstacle for police.

September 13, 2012 Updated Sep 13, 2012 at 9:16 AM PDT

Hundreds of people swarmed the streets in South Los Angeles Wednesday afternoon when suspected bank robbers led police on a pursuit while tossing wads of cash out the window of their getaway car.

"There were mothers leaving their kids and they were just grabbing the money, and there was just money in the air," said resident Sal Reyes. "It was just everywhere."

Many in the crowd took it as an opportunity to scoop up the loose bills, but Reyes says he was compelled to return the money he found.
He said he picked up the cash without initially knowing why it was on the ground. Someone explained to him that it was money from a bank robbery.

Several residents described the alleged robbers as modern-day Robin Hood figures, taking from the rich to give to those in one of the area's less affluent neighborhoods. But there’s no indication that was the intent when three men in ski masks allegedly robbed a Santa Clarita Bank of America. A fourth man was in the getaway car.

Reyes said he had to return the loot.

"You have to give it back. You can’t just go spend money that’s not yours," he said.

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