Four-Wheeling Bandit: Woman With Walker Tries to Rob New Orleans Bank But Can't Flee Fast Enough: Officials

A 63-year-old New Orleans woman has been arrested after she tried to rob a bank while strolling into the establishment using a walker, authorities said.

According to the FBI, Cathay Lynn Hamilton entered the Chase Bank branch around 9 a.m. and passed a note to the teller reading: “Your bank is being robbed; put money in bag or people are going to get hurt.”

The teller complied with the demand, giving $500 to Hamilton, according to authorities. However, the suspect and her walker didn’t make it far after collecting the cash, and a bank security officer escorted her back inside the branch and waited for officers from the New Orleans Police Department to arrive and arrest her, officials said.

This was not the first bank robbery attempt for Hamilton, who attempted to rob a Whitney National Bank branch in 2014, NOLA.com reported. On that occasion, she handed the teller a note that demanded: “Put money in bag now!”

The teller was too slow, so Hamilton left and was arrested trying to ride off on a bicycle, authorities said.

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Hamilton also pleaded guilty to a bank robbery charge in 2015 and she was sentenced to two years in federal prison. The judge on the case recommended Hamilton be evaluated while in prison for substance abuse and “physical and mental health issues,” NOLA.com reported.

In 2017, that same judge revoked Hamilton’s probation for reasons that were not outlined in the court record. According to federal prison records, Hamilton was released from custody in 2018.