How Arizona Became the Site for America's Largest Bank Heist

Arizona has no shortage of famous criminals, typically hailing from the late 19th to early 20th centuries as cattle rustlers, train robbers, and gunslingers.

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There are plenty of notorious villains in modern day Arizona, but none are more famous than those who pulled off the then-biggest bank heist in American history.

First National Bank of Tucson Robbery

In the middle of the day on April 22nd, 1981, the doors of the First National Bank of Tucson slammed open. In walked four men with guns, wearing Halloween masks and stockings over their heads who immediately took the manager and janitor hostage. They threatened the manager's family, stating they had gunmen at his house ready to kill on their order.

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The men were able to make their way into the vault, and left unpursued with around $3.3 Million, equal to around $11,845,000 today. A bounty of up to $26,000 was put on their heads, despite the fact that the men did not injure or kill anyone in the heist.

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How They Got Away

With the amount of money the men got away with, this became the largest bank heist in American history. Even more surprising, they were never caught. Well, technically, they were caught. Four men by the names of Douglas Bruce Fenimore; Douglas Wayne Brown, Michael Gabriel, and David Lee Grandstaff (the supposed brains behind the operation) were identified, and a few months later, Grandstaff and Brown were captured in Denver.

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Luckily for them, the FBI used some questionable tactics during interrogation, and the men were able to appeal their case, which was ultimately acquitted. The money was never found.

[NBC12][The Washington Post]