Security systems of 1961 weren't sufficient to stop...
Turkey's First Modern-Day Bank Robbery

First Modern-Day Turkish Bank Robber -- a Robin Hood? Void of security services in 1961, the İş Bank branch in Istanbul's ancient leather-goods district was an easy target for robbery, even in broad daylight. In this season of gift giving, if you're wondering what to get a Turkish friend, consider the new book entitled 'Firsts of Popular Turkish History' (Türk Popüler Tarihinde İlkler) by reporters Şafak Altın and Çetin Sarıoğlu. Filled with vintage snapshots and interesting short articles, its contents are reminiscent of the 3-volume People's Almanac compiled by novelist Irving Wallace and his son, David Wallechinsky between 1975 and 1981 -- a sort of "Wikipedia in book form." The off-beat background stories in this Turkish-style People's Almanac cut a wide swath through 20th Century Turkish history, including everything from Turkey's first Pop Star, to its first female race-car driver, its first Gossip Columnist, its first Beauty Queen, even its first Intellectual Suicide Victim -- who wrote his 'farewell' in his own blood as he lay dying! Take for example, the story of Turkey's first Professional Bank Robber -- in the days before security systems had even been conceived... His name was Necdet Elmas and his quote, "I don't steal the workers money' (a la folk-hero gangsters like Bonnie and Clyde, Pretty Boy Floyd, and John Dillinger from the 'public enemy era' of the 1930s in the USA) caught the Turkish public's imagination when news of his first (and only) daring day-light robbery hit newsstands. Elmas began his career in crime in the late 1950s as a car thief, and was rather successful until 1961 -- when he was caught and jailed. But, when he heard that his 4th wife was seeking to divorce him while he was still behind bars, he broke out of jail, and went looking for her. While on her trail, he somehow obtained a Sten Mk II Submachine Gun and hooked up with a partner, Necdet Sinkil. When the two ran out of ready-cash on 18 August 1961, they brazenly robbed the security-less İş Bank branch at Kazlıçesme (the Ottoman-age leather-goods district of Istanbul) -- in broad daylight. It was the first recorded bank robbery in modern Turkish history. The robbery netted the partners an impressive 165,850 Old Turkish Lira -- about the equivalent in US dollars at the time. But in the midst of the robbery, Elmas was approached by a bank customer who said, "I'm just a laborer, please don't take my 400 Lira life savings." And in true folk-hero fashion, Turkey's first professional bank-robber reportedly replied, "I don't steal the worker's money" -- and left the customer's life-savings behind. News of the daring bank theft (and the Robin Hood robber) was reported first by Cumhurriyet Newspaper -- and it took the country by storm. With the aim of helping the police catch the bank-robbing duo, the newspaper established a special research team and hired a retired US police chief (experienced in American bank robberies) as a consultant. After only 12 days 'on the lam', Elmas and Sinkil were cornered and captured by police on 30 August 1961 in Darıca (south of Istanbul on the way to Kocaeli) -- putting an end to the career of Turkey's first professional bank robber and his partner. If you enjoyed that story, there are many more where it came from in the 440-page book -- which you can order [for just 10.83 YTL (about $7.50, £3.80, €5.65)] directly from the IdeeFixe online book store at: http://www.ideefixe.com/kitap/tanim.asp?sid=C1XR0ZIPEP3PEB0LYY5V&referer=1608