Bad Luck Bank Robbers is a 2006 book by Canadian historian Grace Barker about the Havelock Bank Robbery.
 | |
| Author | Grace Barker |
|---|---|
| Country | Canada |
| Genre | Crime, non-fiction |
| Publisher | Dawn |
Publication date | 2006 |
| ISBN | 978-0969629825 |
The book documents the robbery, the police chase, the escape, the search and capture of the five robbers, and their trail. It inspired a 2016 play by the same name.
Author edit
Grace Barker is a Canadian author based in Campbellford, Ontario.[1] She was supported by former police officer Clive Naismith of Trent Valley Archives during the research of the book.[2]
Barker previously wrote Timber Empire: The Exploits of the Entrepreneurial Boyds, a historical account of lumber baron Mossom Boyd and his family.[3][4]
Synopsis edit
The book documents the Havelock Bank Robbery of the Toronto Dominion Bank in 1961 and the police chase of the robbers.[1][5] The book describes the two years of planning that went into the robbery, learning the patterns of the staff and the timing of the managers vacation.[6] It details the limited capacity of the local police force.[6] It also talks about the errors made by the robbers, how the local butcher spotted their vehicle and the series of unlucky events that slowed their escape, including a bulldozer blocking road an the breakdown of another vehicle on a single lane road.[6] The book describes how the delays allowed the police to catch up with the robbers, the subsequent gun fight and then the robbers escape into the Ontario wilderness.[6] It details the police-led search, the capture and then the trail of four of the robbers, and the death in custody of the fifth.[6] The book ends by discussing the mystery of the missing $230,000.[6]
Critical reception edit
Kelsey Powell writing for Kawartha Now praised the author's evidence gathering and described the book as a "must read" for history fans.[7]
The book inspired a play by the same name that premiered at the 4th Line Theatre in 2016.[8]
References edit
- ^ a b Tweedle, Sam (2016-08-13). "Crime shouldn't be this funny – a review of The Bad Luck Bank Robbers". kawarthaNOW. Retrieved 2022-07-08.
- ^ "Fonds 156". Trent Valley Archives. Retrieved 2022-07-08.
- ^ Whitnall, Catherine (18 August 2009). "Timber history celebrated at Fenelon Falls museum". Kawartha Lakes This Week. Gale A206103273.
- ^ Campbell, John (17 September 2015). "Bank robbery mystery still captures the imagination". Quinte EMC. p. B1. ProQuest 1713137717.
- ^ "Bank's cash bag discovered in wall during renovations adds to Havelock robbery tale". thepeterboroughexaminer.com. 2021-09-04. Retrieved 2022-07-08.
- ^ a b c d e f "BEHIND THE CRIMES: Bank bandits hid in basement in one of Canada's biggest robberies at the time". thepeterboroughexaminer.com. 2021-08-19. Retrieved 2022-07-08.
- ^ Powell, Kelsey (2014-12-16). "Is $230,000 in stolen loot hidden near Bancroft?". kawarthaNOW. Retrieved 2022-06-29.
- ^ "Play pokes fun at infamous Toronto bank robbery gone wrong". The Canadian Jewish News. 2016-08-08. Retrieved 2022-07-08.
External links edit
- Official website
- Bank robbery mystery still captures the imagination, John Campbell, Trent Hills Independent, September 15, 2015