It's one thing for the average man or woman to perform an incredible act of heroism by stopping a would-be bank robber, but yesterday proved yet again that anyone can be a hero if they want to. Two robberies were stopped yesterday thanks to a 66-year-old woman with Stage 4 cancer and a 55-year-old man with a prosthetic leg.
By Todd Wright, NBCMiami.com
A 66-year-old woman with "nothing to lose" stopped a bank robber in her tracks Friday, Broward Sheriff's Office officials said.
Helen Dunsford, 66, was a customer at a Bank of America in Oakland Park, Fla., when a woman reached in her purse, said she had a gun and yelled for everyone to get on the ground.
As other customers listened to the orders, Dunsford tackled the would-be robber, Renee Breen, and held the suspect down until authorities arrived.
"She got on my last nerve," Dunsford said. "I have cancer, stage 4, and I figured if I'm gonna die it's God will when I die. She's not gonna shoot me."
Breen told deputies when she was taken into custody that the robbery attempt was really an April Fool's joke. She had demanded $10,000.
We're guessing cops and customers didn't find it too funny.
Two other men were taken into custody and are believed to have some connection to Breen. One of the men yelled from the back of a squad car that Breen has "mental problems."
Customers thanked Dunsford for risking her life to potentially save theirs.
"I was more scared than her, I'll tell you that," bank customer Aron Lassin said. "She's a brave old lady. I appreciate the help."
By the Associated Press
A Massachusetts man who used his prosthetic leg to take down a robber says he didn't have time to think, he just reacted.
Stephen Cornell peered through the window of his neighborhood convenience store in Middleton on Wednesday and saw a man pointing a gun at the owner.
He tells The Salem News he intended to tackle the thief when he left JC Grill & Pizza, but instead stuck out his artificial leg and tripped him.
Cornell and owner Edson Andrade disarmed the thief and dragged him back into the store in a chokehold before calling police. The weapon was a pellet gun.
The 55-year-old Cornell lost his leg at age 12.
The suspect, 23-year-old Eric Homen, pleaded not guilty to charges including armed robbery.