Darth Vader Bank Robber Not Your Average Star Wars Nerd

The Long Island bank robber who disguised himself as Darth Vader wasn't afraid to use force. Witnesses tell Newsday (paywall) that when Vader entered the Chase bank in Setauket, everyone thought it was just a gag. A muscular customer at the counter jokingly tried to put his arms around Vader, at which point the 6'2" former Jedi threw him to the ground, pointed the gun at him and said, "I'll shoot you in the face. This isn't a joke." And for the first time in history, a grown man in a Star Wars costume successfully stopped people from laughing at him.

Turning back to the counter, Vader demanded cash from the teller. But as he waited for the hand-off, another woman entered the bank. Sensing a disturbance in the Force, he swung around and pointed his gun at her, declaring, "Not today, lady. Find a different bank." Grabbing the cash, he took off running east, knocking over a bagel shop customer who was as clumsy as he was stupid.

An Air Force veteran inside the bagel store who saw Vader run by tells Newsday he thinks the thief has military training, observing, "He knows what he's doing with the gun. He wasn't holding it like a cowboy." Suffolk county police have made no arrests, but they have dispatched one of their best rookies to the Dagobah system to dig up leads.

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 23, 2010 4:42 PM

Comments [rss]

getboyfriendback

The power of this battlestation is insignificant when compared to the power of cold hard cash!

The Empire Strikes BANK

Petey

And if one of those customers had been allowed to legally carry a firearm, there'd be a dead darth vader.

JWA

Oh yes, an armed society is a peaceful society right? I'd agree except that every time in every SW movie that they entered any area with civilians, someone got stunned, blasted, force choked, or amputated.

Of course if some grandma with a Dillinger shot Darth Vader, that is possibly the only news story that could top this one...

HymietownHero

Derringer.

Zod!ac

Beneath that scary bank-robbing exterior is a stuck up, half-witted, scruffy-looking Nerf herder.

Kelles

This guy is not an amateur; I think we need to call the Batman in on this.

Guest

"thank you, for calling batman, a.k.a. bruce wayne... oh crap, i've said my actual name on the answering machine. alfred? how do i go back..." *beep*

r1b2

Don't try to frighten us with your sorcerer's ways, Lord Vader.

Roncore

The first time in a while a Gothamist write-up made me laugh out loud. A+, would read again!

jaycjay

"He knows what he's doing with the gun."

I was thinking the same thing yesterday based on the pic of him from behind. It looks like he's using a proper two-handed grip.

Rocknrope

Obviously, he believes that hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side.

Guest

"He knows what he's doing with the gun. He wasn't holding it like a cowboy."

no respectable vader holds a gun like a cowboy.

elpollodiablo

"All too easy," the fleeing bandit was heard to remark.

LICer

"Grabbing the cash, he took off running east, knocking over a bagel shop customer who was as clumsy as he was stupid."

That made me laugh out loud in my office. Nice one.

JacqueMehoff

excellent JDS. so the joker may have really did say, NO, Not in the Face! next time, mind your own business. a-hole.

I wonder if he's going to rob another bank, wasn't there some hate group who robbed banks to fund their activities?