The audacious bank heist at a Wells Fargo in Greenspoint, Texas, that made national headlines has led to the arrest of three juveniles, who, due to their tender ages of 11, 12, and 16. These young suspects stand accused of a robbery.
The incident that took place on March 14 involved the juvenile trio handing over a menacing note to a teller at the bank, a classic move in the bank robber’s playbook. While it was believed they could be armed, no weapons were brandished during the crime.
The case took a turn when the FBI’s Houston office released surveillance photos to the public, resulting in an outpouring of tips. In a twist of fate, the parents of two suspects recognized their offspring and turned them in. The third was apprehended following a fight, with officers recognizing him from the photographs. The sheriff’s office said authorities recovered a weapon and a distinctive item pictured in one of the photos.
This heist has raised eyebrows not only because of the successful arrest but also due to the extremely young ages of the culprits. “The age of the younger two, that’s unusual for a bank robbery,” Mike Schneider, a retired juvenile district court judge, told ABC13. “It’s one of the first times I’ve seen that.”
“I was thinking either this was very low in sophistication or maybe an adult had something to do with this. That is not uncommon. Because kids have a punishment that is less severe, it is not uncommon for adult offenders to get them to commit crimes,” Schneider said.
If the allegations are proven true, they could face probation until they turn 18 or juvenile prison until they turn 19, according to one criminal defense attorney. The 16-year-old could also be certified as an adult, but it is not likely, he said.
Investigators will not say if anyone else is involved or whether any cash was recovered. Because they are minors, ABC13 is blurring the initial photos, and the FBI said their names and additional details will not be released.
Relevant articles:
– ‘Little Rascals’ ages 11, 12, and 16 arrested after Texas bank robbery
– Parents of boy bank robbers dubbed as ‘little rascals’ turned them in, HCSO says, KTRK-TV, Wed, 20 Mar 2024 02:48:26 GMT
– 3 children dubbed the ‘Little Rascals’ accused of robbing Houston bank, NBC News, Thu, 21 Mar 2024 15:33:58 GMT
– Texas boys, dubbed ‘little rascals,’ arrested after Houston bank robbery, Fox News, Wed, 20 Mar 2024 13:16:00 GMT