Beloved janitor's secret life as one of Florida's most prolific bank robbers only revealed after final heist goes horribly wrong
- Michael Webb was a trusted member of staff at LA Fitness in Deerfield Beach, south Florida
- Outside his day job, he was a skilled bank robber who had carried out five heists in as many months
- His bosses were shocked when the FBI informed them that he had been killed when his last robbery went terribly wrong
- A career criminal, Webb had served prison sentences countless times since his early 20s
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A popular janitor at a South Florida gym has been revealed to have been living a secret life as a serial bank robber up until his death earlier this month.
Michael J. Webb, 56, had recently been promoted from head janitor to facilities supervisor at LA Fitness in Deerfield Beach and was described by his boss as reliable and someone who could be trusted to do the right thing.
In fact, Webb was a career criminal who had been in and out of prison since his early 20s.
Popular employee: Slain banker robber Michael Webb (right) with baseball star Manny Ramirez at Deerfield Beach LA Fitness where he worked
Career criminal: Webb had been in and out of prison on a number of occasions since his early 20s
‘If the power went out, or something
broke, I would call Mike and he would know exactly what to do,’ Sean
Lynch, the gym's general manager, told The Sun Sentinel. ‘So when the FBI walked in, showed me his picture and told me he was dead, it hit me like a ton of bricks.’
Webb died on Nov. 2, gunned down after a car chase with police when his final robbery went terribly wrong.
Police had dubbed Webb the ‘counter jumper,' after he had carried out a spate of five local robberies in as many months.
But Webb’s attempt at a sixth local robbery, turned out to be his last. Police say he traveled just four miles from his home to the Chase Bank in Pompano Beach, a branch he had already robbed twice before.
Webb walked into the branch wearing a ski mask and carrying a gun only to find that a bullet-proof glass partition had been erected since his last visit.
Realizing that he wasn’t going to be successful this time, Webb rushed from his bank and fled onto the northbound interstate in his truck.
With police giving chase, Webb's blue Dodge Ram spun and rolled onto a grassy area. When he began to crawl out of the overturned truck with a gun in his hand, two deputies opened fire on him.
Bandanna Bandit: Over a seven-month period in 1989 and 1990, Webb robbed 11 South Florida banks
Caught in the act: Police had dubbed Webb as the 'counter jumper' for his recent spate of bank robberies
Almost 20 years before his recent crime spate, Webb was been known to police by another nickname – the Bandanna Bandit. Over a seven-month period in 1989 and 1990, Webb had robbed 11 South Florida banks, including seven in Fort Lauderdale, stealing more than $100,000.
Gym co-owners Lynch and Mike Smith say they had know of Webb’s distance past as a bank robber, but had been convinced by him that he had gone straight a long time ago.
On occasion Webb had shared details about his past over a beer after work. They knew he had done time in prison, was estranged from two sons, and that despite a mainly cheerful manner at work, he could also get depressed and moody.
Local crime: Webb was attempting his third robbery at the Chase Bank in Pompano Beach, just four miles from his home
After a police chase Webb¿s vehicle spun and rolled onto a grassy area and two deputies opened fire on him
Webb first served time for unarmed robbery in his hometown of Providence, R.I. Once out he was soon busted for armed robbery and was sent back for another six years.
After moving to South Florida, Webb was arrested in 1986 on a second-degree attempted murder charge, and served 3 1/2 years in state prison. As the ‘Bandanna Bandit’ he was caught in 1990 in a chase similar to the one that ended his life.
Webb first worked at LA Fitness in 2008. Lynch and Smith were so impressed with Webb, that they rehired him in 2010 after he had been jailed for several months on a domestic battery charge that was later dismissed.
Webb earned his trust, Lynch said, and he even had his own security key. Just days before his demise, Webb had been promoted from lead janitor to facilities supervisor. The new role would boost his pay from $14 to $18.50 an hour, with full benefits, medical and dental.
Video: Florida janitor had a secret life as bank robber
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RIP, hopefully there are no banks in heaven.
- James , Fullerton, 12/11/2012 19:31
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