Darth Vader Robs Bank (Photos, Oh Yes, Photos)

It seems the Empire has fallen on hard times. Presumably to get finishing funds for his latest Death Star, Darth Vader—or a man pretending to be Darth Vader?—was reduced to robbing a bank on Long Island this morning. Impotent Rebel Alliance security forces tell Newsday (paywall) that Vader marched into a Chase bank in Setauket around 11:30 a.m. today. Brandishing a completely unnecessary handgun—as he had the power to choke the oxygen out every teller's throat—the fallen Jedi demanded cash.

It's unclear whether he also found their lack of faith disturbing, but one Rebel policeman says, "The teller complied with the robber's demands and gave him money from the drawer." Vader is described as 6 feet, 2 inches tall, also wearing camouflage pants, and was last seen boarding a starfighter headed in the direction of Long Island's sinister Sith stronghold, in Valley Stream. (Isn't this also where Improv Everywhere has their headquarters?) Below, a surveillance photo from the teller's point of view:

Update 7/23: Witnesses say bank customers thought it was a joke at first—but then Darth Vader used the Force.

Update 7/24: Now it's reported that Darth Vader truly was trying to do this for the Evil Empire—the Yankees, that is: He threw a Yankees backpack at the teller.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By John Del Signore in News on July 22, 2010 5:40 PM

Comments [rss]

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He should have used a Light Saber. Or at least made his gun look like a blaster. I don't know about you but, wouldn't he be easy to spot. Unless of course their was a Star Wars convention in town.

Daniel

Guy on floor screaming " It's a trap! "

Cassandra

Hmmm...I wonder when George Lucas is going to come in demanding his cut.

Amanda Harletsch

is dick chenney into robbing banks now

Byron

"That's no bank. It's a credit union."

borgbot

Freaking best post ever

costumefly

I want to hear him breathe...

DrBob

Lets get real here. If the real Darth Vader were to rob a bank, he would escape in his personal TIE fighter. If the perp was seen leaving in a starfighter her was a rebel imposter!

Wza

He was upset there were no Galactic Republic ATM's in Long Island.

Leena B

This is classic! I wish I could see the pictures. Audio would be great.

TequilaMockingbird

Yeah, if he would have been able to pull it off using a lightsaber, that would have been good, but even better would be using the Jedi mind trick.

Robber Vader: "You don't need to raise the alarm."

Banker: "We don't need to raise the alarm."

Robber Vader: "The money in the vault is for me."

Banker: "The money in the vault if for you."

Robber Vader: "You can go about your business."

Banker: "I can go about my business. Next, please!"

gator142

In a sad related story......R2D2 has reportedly been dressing up as an ATM machine and stealing people's PIN numbers.

emsily

"You are beaten. It is useless to resist. Don't let yourself be destroyed as Obi-Wan did."

Juliana

LOL is there audio?

Chris

Robbing the bank to buy a new Lightsaber I presume.

Andrew

Should be easy enough to catch him--just have a fake Star Wars convention in the area. He'll be dressed as Darth Vader.

S.D.

Um, Anyone named Luke work there???

Guest

Lame

Sketto

No doubt we need Tipper Gore to investigate how science fiction movies are influencing and corrupting our kids.

Guest

Best comment of this thread! +1

waggywow

LOL, Epic Win! Anyone that knocks of a Bank is OK in my book! LOL

Lou

Paulino

wonder how much he is paying for the Death Star mortgage... hard times, when epic villains start engaging on petty theft. The branch should run a mkt campaign on it for sure... "so safe, only Darth Vader can pull it off"

JacqueMehoff

I like the joker trying to have fun with the robber. I think he's saying NO, not the face! next time, mind your own business.

Victor

If he gets pulled over, you think he'd wave his hand and tell the cop "These are not the bills you're looking for?"

Andrew

Did they feel that they were being treated unfairly?

kazubes

thats a lot of effort for a costume, a bandanna would have worked just as well

whitecastlerock

At least he wasn't wearing a Yankees hat...

Anthony

The Force is definitely not strong with this one.

soxinthecity

The emperor made him do it.

Nathan

Well he has to make those down payments on that deathstar some how.

Helen Thomas knows the score

he's even wearing a cape!

thats so awesome.

chuzzlewit

YES! this is rad.

Roncore

EPIC!

Guest

i fucking hate robberies, but...

best. robbery. ever.

ps look at the guy lying down absolutely horrified -- the gun isn't even pointing at him.

eitan

He's not lying down, Vader is holding him there

Nyctini11

I've never seen a Chase w/out security glass, they always target those types of banks... also, LMFAO!!

Guest

It's probably a converted Washington Mutual. They never had them.

Rick

Here in CA WAMU had tellers in the middle of the bank with their own island desk. When chase took over they change them to look like that bank. No Glass.