A bank robbery didn't go as planned for an Orillia man yesterday afternoon.
Orillia OPP have arrested and charged him in relation to a bank robbery in Orillia.
On October 21, at 4:37 p.m., officers were called to a bank robbery in progress on Monarch Drive.
The robber demanded money from the staff, and was given cash with a decoy package causing the red dye to go off.
The dye pack device was invented as a way to non-violently render a bank robbery pointless by permanently staining the stolen money a bright red colour, alerting everyone to the fact that the money being passed to them is stolen. A dye pack consists of a stack of real bills, usually of $10 or $20 denominations, with the dye device stuck in the middle of the stack.
According to the website HowStuffWorks, "Bank tellers have several of these packs near their station at all times. A pack is put in 'safe' mode by attaching it to a special magnetic plate. During a robbery, a teller tries to slip one of the dye packs into the money bag without the thief noticing. While the thief is still inside the bank, the dye pack remains dormant. Within the dye package is a small radio receiver that is activated when the pack is removed from the magnetic plate. A small radio transmitter is mounted inside or near the door frame of all entrances of the bank. Once the dye pack passes through the door and receives the specific radio frequency signal, it activates.
"When the dye pack explodes, it releases an aerosol of red smoke, red dye, and, in some cases, tear gas. When these chemical reactions take place, the package burns at a temperature of about 204 degrees Celsius, discouraging any attempts to remove the device from the bag."
Police say there was no threat to public safety.
Lucus Campbell, 30, of Orillia, is charged with:
- Robbery with violence
- Uttering Threats - cause death or bodily harm
- Firearm - use while committing an offence
- Two counts of failing to comply with a probation order
Campbell was held in custody and will appear in the Ontario Court of Justice in Orillia for a bail hearing.
Members of the Orillia OPP and Orillia Crime Unit attended the scene, with assistance from the Forensic Identification Services.
The Orillia OPP Crime Unit is requesting anyone who witnessed the incident or has information related to this occurrence please contact Orillia OPP at 705-326-3536.
