Willie Sutton (Willie the Actor), a famous American bank robber of Irish descent, earned his nickname “the actor” because of his great talent for disguise, posing as a security guard, courier, policeman, diplomat and window cleaner.
In fact, it is a criminal, bank robber William (Willie, Willie) Sutton (June 30, 1901 - November 2, 1980). On the path of crime rose in early childhood, mainly engaged in thefts, robberies and robberies. Approached the case very creatively - often disguised as police officers, guards, cleaners, couriers and played these roles with great verisimilitude. He was repeatedly caught and arrested, but his escapes became no less famous than his crimes, and among the prisoners, despite his small stature, always enjoyed great authority. Once he was accused of murder, but categorically denied it, and then all his life repeated that there was no blood on him. He robbed over 100 banks in his lifetime. And in 1952 he was sentenced to life imprisonment, but after 17 years he was released for health reasons and due to good behavior. And then he even consulted banks on systems of protection against robbers, wrote his autobiography and willingly gave interviews to journalists.
He committed his most notorious crimes in the 1920s and 1930s, was repeatedly caught and arrested, but was as famous for his escapes as his crimes.
Willie Sutton had his own principles. After his capture, he admitted that he never used a loaded gun. Never robbed a bank with women and children in it. At the bank, he'd say, “Don't worry, insurance will cover it.”
After much questioning, it was discovered that he had unusually high thinking abilities, a sharp mind, a penchant for original solutions, creativity, memory, understanding of others, communication and persuasion. The examiners were perplexed. Why did this man screw up his life?
On February 10, 1947, he made a spectacular escape during a heavy snowstorm. Sutton and his accomplices disguised themselves as guards. After dark, they dragged two ladders across the prison yard to the wall. When they were illuminated by a spotlight, Sutton simply shouted: “It's all right!” and no one stopped them.
On the outside, he became quieter, but in 1952 he was caught by the FBI. He was sentenced to life in prison, but in 1969, given his health and good behavior, he was freed
When asked, “Why do you rob banks?” Willie Sutton answered bluntly and frankly: “Because that's where the money is.”
In his book “I, Willie Sutton” (1953, co-written with Quentin Reynolds), Sutton estimated that he stole at least $2 million dollars from banks during his lifetime.
