/ 18 October 2004

Laughing bank clerk makes robber flee

He put a mask on his face, pulled out a gun and demanded money.

But when the bank clerk laughed in his face, the would-be robber was so humiliated he just ran away.

The bungled hold-up occurred at midday on Thursday at a small bank on Zagreb’s main square, police said.

The 31-year-old clerk, identified only as Martina S, ”laughed aloud” at the threat from the bandit because she knew she was protected by bulletproof glass, said Gordana Vulama, a police spokesperson.

After cackling at the thief, she coolly picked up the phone to call the police, Vulama said.

Seeing that, the failed robber spun around and fled the scene.

Police were searching for him, Vulama said. — Sapa-AP