Bank of America employees had no reason to be suspicious of the Dunbar security man who arrived one winter morning to pick up more than $300,000 in cash.
After all, they recognized the uniformed man, who routinely collected cash deposits.
But Robert Flanagan, 38, of Dallastown, Pa., tipped off bank employees when he threw the bags of cash into a black Jeep Wrangler, as opposed to an armored security van.
Flanagan, a former Baltimore City police officer, pleaded guilty Monday before Howard Circuit Judge Richard Bernhardt to one count of felony theft over $500.
He faces up to 12 years in prisonat the sentencing Sept. 19.
Prosecutor Lynn Marshall said Flanagan kept his old uniform after losing his job with Dunbar Security in September 2007 and then used it to dupe the Ellicott City bank into handing over $379,000 in cash deposits Dec. 13, 2007.
Flanagan also was charged in a similar theft scheme at Kohl?s department store in Ellicott City, but prosecutors dismissed that charge as part of the plea agreement.
“He and his family are just looking forward to putting this behind him,” said Flanagan?s attorney Debra Saltz.
Flanagan was caught after bank employee Amardeep Pannu called Dunbar to confirm the pickup and learned they had never
come to the bank.
Dunbar officials then identified Flanagan from the bank?s surveillance videos.
Howard police later discovered that Flanagan and his wife, Robin Flanagan, had deposited $194,000 in cash at a Commerce Bank in
Harrisburg, Pa., on the same day as the heist.
Flanagan?s wife then withdrew about $16,000 and immediately purchased a new car, Marshall said.
Police searched Flanagan?s house and found the cell phone he used to schedule the Bank of America pickup, Marshall said.
About two months before he was caught, Flanagan attempted the same scheme at several locations in Baltimore County, including a Towson Town Center store in October 2007, said Baltimore County police spokesman Bill Toohey.
Flanagan is scheduled to appear in Baltimore County Circuit Court this week to face charges in the October case.
