The Squeaky Clean Robbery

Daylight robbery: He says the bear took the lunch that was supposed to be for his window cleaning workers, and used it to feed her cubs. Simpson says his crew did not mind.

Bear in North Georgia climbs into truck, takes food: A black bear climbed in to the company truck and made itself at home in Pickens County. "The mother bear took my guys' lunch," Gilbert Simpson, owner of Squeaky Clean Windows, said. It happened in Jasper in Pickens County last Tuesday, Simpson said. "My employees were on the job site in Big Canoe when she started taking their lunch to feed her cubs," Simpson said. He said he snapped photos of the bear and no one was hurt.

At least 5,000 bears call Georgia home, typically living in swamps or forested areas, according to the state Department of Natural Resources. It is usually unusual to sight bears in metro Atlanta but that has been getting more common lately. Dunwoody residents first reported bears this year in their back yards the first week in May. Dunwoody police had hoped that state rangers would subdue any creatures with a tranquilizer and transport them elsewhere.

Homeowner Vincent James watched a black bear get comfortable in his hammock.

The state Department of Natural Resources, however, informed them that bears are free roaming critters in Georgia: they have to be bad, apparently, before they can be forcibly moved. The suburbs can be dangerous for them. They occasionally rely on the interstate or other roads to traverse the territory, leading to fatal encounters with automobiles.

The nearest you come to a window cleaning bear is in front of the Denver Convention Center.

Close Shaves For Window Cleaners

A window washer working on the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus fell several stories from the side of the Elvey Building on Friday afternoon.

A window washer working on the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus fell several stories from the side of the Elvey Building on Friday afternoon. The man, whose name has not been released, was cleaning windows on the exterior of the building when he fell from his post about 2:15 p.m. Friday. The University police and fire departments responded to the incident. When paramedics arrived on scene the man was conscious and able to talk with first responders, according to Capt. Forrest Kuiper with the University Fire Department.

The man told paramedics he had been cleaning windows on the third story of the building when he fell, Kuiper said. “There was nothing visible that showed where he was working at all, so that was based just on what he told us,” Kuiper said. Paramedics put the man on a backboard and transported him to Fairbanks Memorial Hospital. His injuries did not appear to be life-threatening, according to Kuiper. University spokesperson Marmian Grimes said she did not have information on the victim. Window washers are contracted workers and not university employees. The Elvey Building is seven stories tall and can be recognized by the large satellite-tracking dish antenna on its roof. It houses the UAF Geophysical Institute.

Van thieves pinned the professional window cleaner between the side of the van and a wall, leaving him with cuts and bruises.

Couple injured while trying to stop van thieves: A Ballygawley mother of two has spoken of the frightening moment she narrowly avoided being run over trying to stop thieves making off in the family’s van. Gail McIvor was enjoying a quiet Sunday morning at the family home on Grange Road when two drunken men appeared at the front of their property between Ballygawley roundabout and the village’s Main Street. 

The mother-of-two first spotted the pair sitting in the family car at the front of the house at 10:30 am, which was open, but with no keys inside. She spoke to the men through an open window. They then walked around the side of property where her husband Paul was working at the back of his new Transit van. “The next thing I heard him shouting and I went out. At this stage the van had started, I could hear it spinning on the stones,” said Gail. 

Moving off, the van thieves pinned the professional window cleaner between the side of the van and a wall, leaving him with cuts and bruises. “I actually stood out in front of them and put my two hands up. I just thought if I could get them to slow down, my husband could maybe catch up with them,” said Gail. “But when they seen me, they actually accelerated,” she recalled. “They didn’t slow down at all.” 

Diving for cover, Gail was struck in the hip, spinning her around and sending her onto the ground. “It’s unbelievable,” she said. “We’re still very shook up about it, it’s still very hard to believe it actually happened.” Police immediately launched an investigation into the incident on Sunday, tracing the van to Middletown in Co' Armagh at 11am, where two men were reported for acting suspiciously. A further report was received at 12.10pm on Sunday of two men in a white Transit being involved in the theft of a blue Peugeot 406 car in the Blaney Road area of Crossmaglen. 

Just one hour later, the two men’s escapade ended, when they spectacularly crashed through fencing into field at Drumcaw, on the main Emyvale to Monaghan road. The pair were detained by An Garda Síochána and the McIvor’s Transit van was later recovered in the Cullaville Road area of Crossmaglen near Ballyinacarry Bridge. 

It’s understood the keys of the McIvor’s van and their house were found in men’s possession. On Monday, Terence McDonagh (30) of Townspark, Cavan and John McDonagh (44) of Castlecurragh Vale, Mulhuddart, Dublin 15, appeared in court in Monaghan town charged in connection with the Emyvale incident. Terence McDonagh was charged with driving a vehicle without consent of the owner, driving while under the influence of an intoxicant, driving without insurance and possession of stolen property, namely a box of Bulmers cider. John McDonagh was charged with allowing himself to be carried in a vehicle without consent of the owner and the theft of Bulmers Light from the Topaz filling station just outside Monaghan town. 

Both were remanded in custody to Cloverhill Prison, Dublin until a hearing in Monaghan on Monday. It’s understood that the pair will be dealt with by the courts over the border before being handed over to the PSNI to face charges in connection with incident in Ballygawley. With the Transit van now back in their possession, albeit dented with broken windows, the McIvors said they were grateful that their two children, aged one and four years were inside the house at the time of the incident. “It was a very scary situation, it wasn’t what you would expect at 10:30 am on a Sunday morning in broad daylight,” said Gail. “It’s bad, were very shook up, but it could have been a lot worse.”

Window Cleaners - Two Daylight Robberies

This van, which was stopped by Easton and Phillipsburg police early Monday morning after an armed robbery in Phillipsburg was taken without the company's permission, one of George Hanisak Window Cleaning LLC's owners said this morning.

Van allegedly used in robbery, burglary was taken without permission, business owner says: A business' van that was allegedly used Monday as the getaway vehicle in an armed robbery and a burglary was taken without the company's permission, a principal in George Hanisak Window Cleaning LLC said this morning. Saying she was "very, very upset," Maria Heaton, who runs the company with her brother, James Hanisak, and sister, Nancy Lee Roth, said the company has been getting calls asking how it could allow its truck to be used in alleged criminal acts. The van was parked off-site and the company did not know it had been taken, she said.

Heaton's nephew, Cody Hanisak, of the 6000 block of Sullivan Trail in Wind Gap, was charged Tuesday along with Sarah M. Brittain, of Belvidere, in an armed robbery early Monday at a Shell gas station on Memorial Parkway in Phillipsburg. The van was also believed to have been used during a burglary in Bethlehem Township, Pa., township police said Tuesday.

Cody Hanisak no longer works for the company, Heaton said, but she said police asked her not to divulge details of when his employment ended. She said she also isn't allowed to say if the van was reported stolen, but Phillipsburg police said Hanisak wasn't charged with auto theft. Heaton did say the owners didn't know it was missing until town police notified them it had been recovered. "We had no idea" the van was missing, she said. "... He went there and took it." The company was founded 65 years ago by Heaton's father, George Hanisak. He operated it until his death in December 2011, after which three of his children took it over and have been doing very well, Heaton said.

Phillipsburg police take a man into custody about 4:15 a.m. Monday during an investigation into an armed robbery at a Shell gas station about 2 a.m. on Memorial Parkway.

Phillipsburg gas station robbed, two people taken into custody:  A man and woman were taken into custody early this morning about two hours after an armed robbery at a Shell gas station  at 598 Memorial Parkway in Phillipsburg, town police report. The gas station was robbed about 2 a.m. by what was originally thought to be two men but later changed to a man and a woman, due to conflicting reports, police said. One of the suspects displayed what police believe was a toy gun, according to emergency radio reports. Police could not immediately confirm that detail. Police would not say how much, if any, money was stolen.

One of the suspects was wearing a black hooded jacket, the other a red hooded jacket and they ran toward Bates Street, police said. About the same time, a white van with Hanisak Window Cleaning written on it was reported to police as driving erratically in the 300 block of Bates Street, according to emergency radio dispatches. Police confirmed the description of the van. Emergency radio broadcasts in the Lehigh Valley and northwest New Jersey provided details about the van, and an Easton patrol officer spotted it at 4:15 a.m. and followed it across the Northampton Street free bridge, town police said. Phillipsburg police aided in a traffic stop at Chintewink Alley, where the man and woman were taken into custody, according to police.

The two people were taken to Phillipsburg police headquarters, and the van was impounded. As of 7 a.m., no charges had been filed. Police would not confirm the identity of the people in custody, saying that information would be released later today. The investigation is ongoing, police said. "There is no threat to the public," police Sgt. Sandor Gal said. "It should be wrapped up today." A news release is expected mid-morning, Gal said, but it never came. Detective Sgt. Mike Swick said at that time that charges hadn't been filed and the investigation was continuing.

Authorities may be close to making an arrest in an early Monday morning burglary in Bethlehem Township, Pa., according to police. Electronic items and other valuables were taken after 3 a.m. from 4088 Freemansburg Ave., police say. A van was stopped early Monday in Phillipsburg with items inside similar to those reported stolen from the Freemansburg Avenue home. Bethlehem Township Chief Daniel Pancoast said the van in question was white and belonged to a window cleaning company. The van, matching the description, was pulled over in Phillipsburg after reports of an armed robbery at the Memorial Parkway Shell gas station. Pancoast said he was unaware of a connection between the township burglary and the New Jersey armed robbery. Phillipsburg police impounded the van, township police say, allowing for a more thorough search of the contents. Bethlehem Township police say they expect to release more information after interviews with the vans' occupants and a complete search of the van. Phillipsburg police said it was premature to comment on the Bethlehem Township burglary, citing the ongoing investigation.

Window cleaner Graham Gore-Thorne in daylight robbery.

Window cleaner tells how he chased robbers who stole £25,000 being delivered to HSBC in Ringwood, Hampshire: A window cleaner has described how he chased two robbers as they fled on a scooter after snatching cash from a security guard outside a Hampshire bank. Graham Gore-Thorne was among half a dozen have-a-go heroes who tried to stop the pair who escaped with what is thought to be around £25,000. One robber wrenched a cash box away from the guard as he arrived to make a delivery in a busy High Street. He then jumped on to the back of his accomplice’s scooter as a group of bystanders chased him. The robbers sped off up Mansfield Road towards the A31 dual carriageway, removing the money and throwing the box away.

Staff were inside the Lloyds TSB bank and lots of shoppers were already in Ringwood High Street yesterday morning when the raid happened. Graham said: “I was walking down the road when I noticed a scooter with its headlights on. “I heard a commotion and somebody shouted and this man outside the bank grabbed a case from the security guard. “He jumped on the back of the scooter and as he got on, he opened the case up and took the money out. “Then he threw the case on the floor.” The Black Honda SH300 scooter-style motorbike they used was later found abandoned at Narrow Lane in nearby Poulner, near the slip road on to the eastbound side of the A31.

Robbers snatch cash from security guard outside Ringwood Lloyds: Two robbers fled on a scooter after snatching cash from a security guard outside a bank yesterday morning. Staff were inside the Lloyds TSB bank and lots of shoppers were already in Ringwood High Street yesterday morning when one of the men jumped out and grappled the cash cassette from the guard after he had arrived outside to make a delivery. The robber jumped onto the back of his accomplice’s scooter as a group of bystanders chased after the two men, but they made it away with what was believed to be £25,000.

Graham Gore-Thorne, a window cleaner, was among the five or six have-a-go heroes who chased after them as they pulled the money from the cassette and discarded the empty case on the street. He said: “I was walking down the road when I noticed a scooter with its headlights on. “I heard a commotion and somebody shouted and this man outside the bank grabbed a case from the security guard. “He jumped on the back of the scooter and as he got on, he opened the case up and took the money out.  “Then he threw the case on the floor.” Graham said he heard that £25,000 was taken as he gave his statement. A Hampshire police spokesman said no one was hurt in the incident but ‘bank staff and the guard were left shocked by what happened’.

Staff at Lloyds told the Echo they heard a lot of shouting when the robbery happened outside. Afterwards the robbers fled up Mansfield Road towards the dual carriageway. And the Black Honda SH300, scooter-style motorbike they used was later found abandoned at Narrow Lane in Poulner, near the slip road on to the eastbound side of the A31. Witnesses said the robbers wore dark clothing and police believe the pair travelled from outside the area to commit the robbery. Chris Patterson, of W Patterson Butchers in High Street, said he saw the robbers flee past the security guard’s van. He said: “The case came flying out open into the street when they left. “Someone from Lloyds told me they got £25,000. “The guys at the bank said those cash cases just pop open and they were gone in seconds.”

Window Washer Gives Chase

An employee of G4S (left) possibly the guard that was pepper sprayed and robbed outside Century Casino, 13103 Fort Road, chats with an unidentified person after the robbery of the pictured G4S security vehicle.

Armoured truck employee pepper-sprayed in robbery outside Century Casino: A brazen masked thief brandishing pepper spray attacked and robbed an armoured truck employee Thursday afternoon outside the front doors of Century Casino in northeast Edmonton. The robber, who left behind a dark blue duffel bag and can of pepper spray, jumped into a running black Jeep driven by an accomplice and fled with an undisclosed amount of cash moments after the 1:55 p.m. heist at Fort Road and 131st Avenue.

Police said two workers of G4S armoured truck company were at the casino to collect a package. A window washer, who didn’t to give his name, witnessed the robbery. He said the guards were conducting a “routine delivery” when a stocky man in a black hoodie ran up and sprayed a guard from a couple of feet away. The driver dropped the bag and the robber scooped it up. It looked like a “pro job,” and took only half a minute, the window washer said. “It happened in the blink of an eye. The guard got pepper sprayed by a big guy, I actually chased him but I didn’t want to risk my life.”

The window washer and the second armoured truck worker gave chase, as a Jeep pulled a U-turn and the robber jumped in. The vehicle sped from the parking lot, nearly hitting a pedestrian. “What’s going through your mind is, ‘does this guy have a gun or a knife?’ the window washer said. “You have one life, there’s always more money.”

Det. Ron Gamble said from “my perspective, anybody who does a crime of this nature is pretty brazen. It puts people at risk; it puts people at risk on the road trying to evade the getaway vehicle.” Police said the robbers later switched vehicles and were last seen in a white sport utility vehicle on 66th Street. The Jeep was recovered and police are searching it for evidence. Police will interview the armoured truck employee who suffered minor injuries during the robbery, Gamble said. The robber, who was dressed in black, was about six-foot-two, 200 pounds.

Casino spokesman Dan Keene said the company will evaluate its security. He wouldn’t comment about surveillance cameras, other than saying “we’re like a lot of other casinos.” Keene said he couldn’t remember a similar robbery in the city. “I’ve been here almost five years now and it’s never happened. I can’t recall it ever happening in Edmonton as long as I’ve been in this business.”

A window washer who witnessed the robbery, but didn't want to be identified, says he was shocked by what he saw. "It's like, 'Holy Christ! This is happening, this isnt' a movie. It takes a second to realize what was going on," said the witness, who tried chasing down the suspect. "Part of you is 'do the right thing.' If the guard, if enough of us had tackled him we could've perhaps subdued him, but I'm not going to take him on myself." After fleeing the scene, the robbers reportedly dumped their getaway car, and were reportedly seen getting into a white utility vehicle, possibly an Avalanche or Escalade, heading westbound on 66th Street.

A member of the Edmonton Police Service Identification unit with evidence outside Century Casino, 13103 Fort Road, after a robbery from the security vehicle.

Cancer Research Collection Stolen By Window Washer

Money for cancer research stolen from Cape Coral tattoo shop: After five months of fund raising, nearly $500 was collected and then stolen in a flash. Now, a Cape Coral tattoo parlor is scrambling to replace that money for cancer research as police search for the suspect. Tyler Ferguson, of Forever Tattoo Parlour, said they were raising money in an empty water cooler jug for Cape Coral's Relay for Life. "At least $300, possibly up to $500," he explained. He said it took five months to accumulate that money and that it was taken just days after a big weekend fundraising blitz. "It really took a toll on me when I found out it was gone," Ferguson said. 

Workers say the theft went down just after noon Wednesday.  A nearby window washer came in offering his services for cash. Instead, he walked out with an entire bucket full of cash. And a worker at a nearby business says he saw it all go down. That worker nearby says he thought it was a routine pick-up. He says he didn't put two and two together until police came a few hours later.  He said the middle-aged man was driving a mid-90s, green Dodge Caravan. "It's possibly the most money he's seen on his person in quite some time," said Mark Stewart, owner of Forever Tattoo.

Stewart says Cape Coral Police told him they have an idea who did it and that finding him and the money is a priority. Now, Stewart and his customers are left to start fundraising all over again in time for May's Relay for Life. If you'd like to help out and make a donation, you can go into Forever Tattoo Parlour and drop one off. You can find a map with the business' location on the upper right-hand side of this page.

Hire a Window Cleaning Pro' - Or Loose The Lot

BOGUS WINDOW CLEANERS ON THE RISE:

A Swindon dad says he felt violated after an intruder posing as a window cleaner broke into his home. The man, who asked not to be named and is in his 40s, told the Swindon Advertiser that his new house still feels tainted by the crime. The burglar forced his way into the house while the homeowner was out and took electrical items worth hundreds of pounds from bedrooms. The victim revealed that he had hoped for a fresh start in his new Swindon home, having moved with his children at the start of the year, but now they have nothing but negative memories.
“I had just moved in,” he said. “I left the house for about an hour while the paint and plaster dried. “When I returned I could see the front door was open and there were muddy footprints all over the carpet. “I didn’t know if the person was still in the house. I followed the footprints upstairs and could see someone had stolen the wide screen TV and lots of games consoles. “I knew I’d been burgled and it was a horrible feeling. It’s a violation of your privacy.”
The burglar had managed to earn the trust of his victim. He was very persuasive in pretending to be a window cleaner and in giving sob stories about his family to get work. The victim added: “It’s upsetting because it’s someone coming into your property, who you wouldn’t invite in normally, and taking things from you. “Even now I can visualise where he has been and what he has done. My kids don’t want to be in the house alone any more. “My advice to people would be to check tradesmen’s details to make sure they are legitimate and, if still unsure, be at home when they are doing the work. Also, don’t leave your doors and windows open.”
The police were called to the address and the thief was caught soon after the burglary. He was later given a 12-month suspended sentence. The victim is supporting Safer Homes Week, a campaign led by Swindon Police that offers residents tips on how to protect their homes from crime. Swindon Community Safety Partnership recently revealed that up to 20 burglaries happen each week in the town. This number has doubled during the summer months, with people leaving windows open in hot weather and others going on holiday.
Advice at crime clinic:
THE Swindon Community Safety Partnership has been holding crime clinics offering prevention advice across the town throughout the week. A clinic will be held near the Millennium Clock in the town centre tomorrow from 10am to 4pm. The Safer Homes Week has been the subject of radio debate throughout the week, notably during BBC Radio Wiltshire breakfast shows hosted by Chris Warburton between 6am and 9am each day.

Home-Owners please click on the Swag-man

Window Shopper & Cleaner

Police in Milan, Italy are investigating an unusual $1m (£628,420) robbery in the heart of the Italian fashion capital. It was, said the victim, "a masterpiece of its kind". It was certainly daring in broad daylight and on one of Milan's swankiest shopping streets. Staff at Pederzani's, one of the city's exclusive jewellers, thought nothing amiss when a window cleaner went to work on the plate glass display. Dressed in regulation overalls, he propped his ladder against the window. But then, instead using the bucket and squeegee to clean it, he calmly unscrewed it before scooping an estimated $1m-worth of jewels into his bucket and walking off into the Friday shopping crowd. This is not the first audacious crime to hit Milan's fashion district this year. In February robbers tunnelled their way into another top jeweller's escaping with almost $24m-worth of gems while its owners were away entertaining Hollywood stars at the Oscars. Click the pictures to enlarge.