Blockwatch... yep, probably a tad over the top, with my last comment. However, I can't understand the asinine decision to put oneself in danger. Making a night deposit to a dark secluded drop box is just plain stupid! NO job is more important than one's safety!

And.. company owners need to take better care of their employees. There is absolutely NO reason to make a drop at that time of night. The morning shift can run it to the bank, in daylight, with other people around. There's no one there to enter that deposit anyway.

My point with the economy, was simply that I expect theft to become a huge issue in the coming months. That neighborhood is dicey, to say the least also.

gmaof3: your comment "I hope the perp got away and doesn't get caught" is wrong in so many levels...
Hopping that a criminal gets away just to punish the owners is some twisted logic. The owner is not going to miss or even notice the loss from one days sales from one small location, but unfortunately the woman who was victim will feel the effects from this for a long time. This criminal should be caught for all the grief and pain he has put her trough. I do think that something must be done about the way that those deposits are made. something as simple as a buddy system for those deposits will work great on the side of the stores and on the bank side i think that it should be mandatory that all banks provide a safe location for after-hour deposits, keeping our money safe is their business..

We all have to take part in protecting our community. this kind of stuff should not be allowed to happen..

Chelleandlou: I hope you realize that you can file a complaint with the city against the landlord and the city will force your landlord to make the repairs, plow your parking lot and do the other things.

Additionally, as a tenant, you have rights and there are legal ways in which you can go about making sure your rights are protected while making sure the landlord keeps up his end of the lease.

I work for a property management firm so I know. If you want more information - just ask.

I was reading this news story and got some flashbacks from my past when my mother was robbed by an armed tug. I remembered how upsetting this was to her and how angry it made me. At the time i was proudly serving in our armed forces and made it my mission to catch the thug responsible so i put all my training to work.. Now I am glad to say he is currently paying for his crimes in prison where he will stay for a LONG time since that was his third strike..

What happen to this woman is going to effect her and family for a long time that is the worse part. I really feel for them and sorry this happen.

SarahB i sent you an email last night.

joeflint:
i don't understand your comment.
are you suggesting that neighborhood is safe?
compared to milwaukee's north side -- a walk in the park.
compared to the robert taylor homes -- no sweat.
however, there ARE areas of janesville where safety is a concern.
if it weren't the case, then this robbery wouldn't have taken place.
clarify -- i'm not sure your argument.
booch

booch -- there are tough neighborhoods in Janesville...? Please... :D

Highway213: She worked third shift. To the officers, whom she lovingly called "my boys," she was known as "Mrs. E." With six of her own children, I think you used the job to help her stay sane.

Pretty brutal assessment, gmaof3. For all we know this was the owner. It's probably someplace they have used for years without incident. Everyone will be more cautious now and I hope the police shadow is still available on request for those that need it.
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I suggest anyone who has some risk in their life, like carrying cash or walking to work in the dark, to get a book about personal safety and take some advice about evaluating situations. I was a crime victim this year and I've really re-evaluated how I got into that situation.
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I don't know what the apartments nearby have to do with it. If anything the interstate interchange could be more relevant. Speculating about nearby residents when this is the first bank robbery in Janesville in a while is pushing it.

chelleandelou, is that property managed by a management company?

I live on Woodlane Drive, believe me this slum is NOT low rent housing. I pay $850/mo. the slum lord doesn't fix anything, the apartment was filthy when I moved in, they don't plow or salt the parking lot, my mailbox doesn't lock and its outside so who knows what mail has been taken out of it or blown away, it's dark back here and do I feel safe. HECK NO. I don't like going out in the dark parking lot with the dark street. Not to mention the questionable people that live around here.

SarahB did your mom work second or third shift
i understand if you won't answer . and there was an older lady that worked first .

Momof5: LOL! Sometimes I forget how fast the years get past me. You're probably right about the standby procedure being left behind in the last century. Anyway, I hope this incident leads to people taking more precautions. No night deposit is worth putting one's life in danger.

mack, it's your turn.

jakiao, was it that bad? I was just kidding. Okay, apologies.

According to the scanner last night, the perp had the bandana over his face. Police were very quick in their response and flooded the area with cars. They followed the tracks back past Goodwill but then lost them. He probably had a car waiting at Woodman's.

Some of these people are making deposits from stores at the mall after closing. These areas should be well lit and out in the open. My daughter had to do the same thing at about that same time.

gazettefan, must you be so rude? The person asked a question. There was no need for you to respond the way you did.

SarahB: I believe that was 20+ years ago. I have friends who are cops in Janesville and other jurisdictions. Maybe in the 80's or early 90's they'd have time to get to (US Bank) to standby while a deposit was being made. But, my guess now would be that they don't have the manpower to do it on a regular basis (and at a certain time to boot). Heck, in Madison, unless you have a specific suspect or are injured, they don't send out police. They send you a self-reporting form. Why? Because they are too busy.
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I'm not saying police never offered this service. I just doubt it is very prevelant nowadays.
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I too question why this deposit was made at night without some sort of escort or buddy. Seems a little suspect. I'd say 90% of the businesses at the mall make their deposits during the day or have a service (ie Brinks) who does it for them.

Are you serious?

I'm really surprised companies are still making night deposits. With the economy as it is and the holidays nearing, how stupid is this?

An out of work "would-be" thief, facing foreclosure or eviction, and nothing under the tree for the kiddies. Well, you can knock off a night deposit and perhaps save the day for the family for a while, or get "3 hots and a cot" when you're caught, sounds like a feasible question to me.

I hope the perp got away and doesn't get caught. The owner of that company deserves what he got, or should I say "lost". Putting an employee, probably making minimum wage, in harm's way is simply STUPID!!! Would 10 hours really make a difference to the owner, to make the deposit first thing in the morning? Sheesh people!!!

Momof5: My mom was a night dispatcher at the Beloit Police Department for 20-plus years (retired when 911 opened). Anyway, she said it was standard for her to send a police standby for a night deposit if a business requested it. Also, I know it wasn't too long ago that the Gazette ran a story about the widow of a young businessman murdered many years ago when dropping off a night deposit.

The neighborhood behind Toys-R-Us is bad, and the places behind that little strip mall across from the mall as well. Most businesses don't allow deposits after dark or they have the buddy system where they follow each other in seperate vehicles.

Best answer yet. I thought the same. It was set up or at least a known person. Never have seen people just hanging out there. By the way, what bad neighbor hood?

It's stupid to drop that much money off at a bank at night anyways... but my first thought was that it was a set up... maybe she is working with the perp and now they both have a lot of money... just a thought

SarahB: I've made night deposits in Janesville and other locations that are much larger in population (and crime). Not once have I ever seen or had a police standby. I have, however, seen mall security or another security firm give rides to banks (or walk with us to the bank back when M&I was in the Janesville Mall). No offense to them, but most are scared of their own shadow and would be no threat to a real perp.

rooster, the Clinton economy was prosperous!

glad to read you were safe and that you are out of a job. wait, that didn't come out right.
anyway, were you a victim of the clinton economy????

I used to run a retail store and made deposits at this location every night. There are many bushes and the way the structure is laid out makes any view from the general public totally obstructed. I was just waiting for the day this happened to me. Fortunately the store I worked for went under and I was never robbed. I feel really bad for her. US bank should take measures to better protect their patrons.

maybe, but what was the race of the person making the night deposit. isn't that a fact? maybe it was race based rather than economically based!

The robber had a mask on and probably gloves so the victim probably couldn't tell if the perp was black or white.

Go ahead, make my day.

Making night deposits can be dangerous. Unless things are different in Janesville, even most businesses don't make night deposits without a police standby.

Ya see that white stuff outside? It's called snow. Very soft.

How the heck do they know the shoe size???????

that area has become a tough neighborhood.
lots of low rent housing.

also, the article states, "The suspect was described as a man with a thin build, about 5 feet 8 inches to 5 feet 10 inches tall, with a size 9 ½ to 10 ½ shoe."

caucasian man? black man? just curious. even in today's politically correct environment, i think ALL of the details of what a person looks like is crucial.

Oops, I see it...

What bank?