Man lifts cash flying from armored car

Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2002 | 11:08 a.m.

Metro Police are looking for a man who made off with three bundles of money after the back doors of an armored car flew open about 5:15 p.m. Tuesday on Desert Inn Road near Pecos Road.

The armored car was heading west when, due to a mechanical malfunction, the rear doors opened and several large plastic bags containing "a substantial amount" of paper currency wrapped in clear plastic bundles tumbled out onto the road.

One of the bundles broke apart, sending several thousands of dollars over the road, police said. Several citizens ran into the street to pick up money. Police said the "free-for-all" resulted in a minor, non-injury crash. Almost all of the money was recovered at the scene.

Due to security concerns, police would not disclose the name of the armored car company and the exact amount of currency recovered and missing.

Police are reminding the public that anyone who posseses any of the missing money and fails to return it to police can be charged with comprehensive theft, a felony.

Police are seeking a dark-skinned black male, between the ages of 20 and 30, who was seen leaving the scene with three bundles of cash. He had "Jheri-curled" black shoulder length hair and was wearing a black heavy jacket, blue jeans and a baseball cap. He was seen driving away in a late model black sports utility vehicle, possibly a GMC Yukon, with chrome wheels and tinted windows.

Anyone with information on this person or the missing currency is asked to call the Metro's financial/property crimes bureau at 229-3513 or Secret Witness at 385-5555.