Sean Flynn

This seems to have been the point where Martin began to drift into method acting, into becoming the character he thought he was only playing. He'd been a gentleman thief three times, two banks and an art heist. Why go back to that boring, ordinary family man schtick? Why not act out the upside of gentleman thieving? The definition of gentleman has, we hope, evolved.

This seems to have been the point where Martin began to drift into method acting, into becoming the character he thought he was only playing. He'd been a gentleman thief three times, two banks and an art heist. Why go back to that boring, ordinary family man schtick? Why not act out the upside of gentleman thieving? The definition of gentleman has, we hope, evolved.

Martin Pedersen is sort of a legend in Norway. People don't recognize him on the street. It's more of a trivia question fame. Who is Norway's biggest bank robber? It's him, Martin. In fact, that's the title of a Norwegian documentary that he just mentioned, Norges Storste Bankraner. This is a judgment call, by the way.

Martin Pedersen is sort of a legend in Norway. People don't recognize him on the street. It's more of a trivia question fame. Who is Norway's biggest bank robber? It's him, Martin. In fact, that's the title of a Norwegian documentary that he just mentioned, Norges Storste Bankraner. This is a judgment call, by the way.

But this was the 70s, and Martin leaned hard into his best James Bond womanizing and gallivanting. That's the pop psychology take.

But this was the 70s, and Martin leaned hard into his best James Bond womanizing and gallivanting. That's the pop psychology take.

Soon enough, he was broke again.

Soon enough, he was broke again.

Must he do it again? No. He wanted to because he was good at it. And that Playboy lifestyle ain't going to fund itself. He went through all the usual steps, but there was one detail that was different, significantly, from his first robbery. Martin was using a revolver.

Must he do it again? No. He wanted to because he was good at it. And that Playboy lifestyle ain't going to fund itself. He went through all the usual steps, but there was one detail that was different, significantly, from his first robbery. Martin was using a revolver.

Martin's playing his part with a loaded gun. At the bank, only two people are working. A young woman and the manager, a big man.

Martin's playing his part with a loaded gun. At the bank, only two people are working. A young woman and the manager, a big man.

The manager had Martin pinned to a table. Martin was worried about getting caught, but he was also worried about his gun.

The manager had Martin pinned to a table. Martin was worried about getting caught, but he was also worried about his gun.

The manager tried to pull off Martin's hat, part of his disguise.

The manager tried to pull off Martin's hat, part of his disguise.

The manager swung at Martin. Martin put his hands up to protect his face.

The manager swung at Martin. Martin put his hands up to protect his face.

The bullet didn't hit anyone, but the noise attracted attention.

The bullet didn't hit anyone, but the noise attracted attention.

Martin went out a window, jumped six feet to the ground. Outside, people were staring, moving toward this strange, loud noise.

Martin went out a window, jumped six feet to the ground. Outside, people were staring, moving toward this strange, loud noise.

The biggest bank robbery in Norway was pulled off by a guy named David Tosca in 2004, $13.5 million. But Tosca had 12 people working with him, and a cop got killed. Martin never killed anyone, and he worked solo for most of his criminal career. Between September 1974 and May 1980, Martin robbed, at gunpoint, 19 banks. And he got away with the equivalent today of almost $10 million.

The biggest bank robbery in Norway was pulled off by a guy named David Tosca in 2004, $13.5 million. But Tosca had 12 people working with him, and a cop got killed. Martin never killed anyone, and he worked solo for most of his criminal career. Between September 1974 and May 1980, Martin robbed, at gunpoint, 19 banks. And he got away with the equivalent today of almost $10 million.

Let's consider the options. One would have been to get a job and stop robbing banks before someone got killed or he got arrested. Or two, he could become a better bank robber. Martin went with number two.

Let's consider the options. One would have been to get a job and stop robbing banks before someone got killed or he got arrested. Or two, he could become a better bank robber. Martin went with number two.

In one sense, this flurry of robberies was almost routine. Martin followed the same practice steps each time. But in another sense, each new job had its own hint of artistry. Martin tried out new disguises, new accents.

In one sense, this flurry of robberies was almost routine. Martin followed the same practice steps each time. But in another sense, each new job had its own hint of artistry. Martin tried out new disguises, new accents.

Where did you get the idea to put that much deception into the back end? Instead of just trying to get as far away as fast as you could.

Where did you get the idea to put that much deception into the back end? Instead of just trying to get as far away as fast as you could.

They believed it every time. 14 times, in fact. That's a lot of banks. Cats don't have that many lives. Martin stopped using live rounds after he almost killed that manager. But it still haunted him. A gentleman thief can't have blood on his hands. And at some point, you become more thief than gentleman.

They believed it every time. 14 times, in fact. That's a lot of banks. Cats don't have that many lives. Martin stopped using live rounds after he almost killed that manager. But it still haunted him. A gentleman thief can't have blood on his hands. And at some point, you become more thief than gentleman.

It wasn't me. Except it kind of was. Martin might have wanted out, but he wanted out on his terms. He didn't want to fade away, leave nothing but a string of unsolved and apparently unrelated robberies. He wanted one big score. The stuff of legends.

It wasn't me. Except it kind of was. Martin might have wanted out, but he wanted out on his terms. He didn't want to fade away, leave nothing but a string of unsolved and apparently unrelated robberies. He wanted one big score. The stuff of legends.

Martin wanted to rob the Central Bank of Norway.

Martin wanted to rob the Central Bank of Norway.

Martin knew he couldn't rob the Central Bank by himself. A job that big, a stage that big, required a supporting cast. So he found a partner, an apprentice, a Sundance kid, a Bonnie to his Clyde, a Pitt to his Clooney. an old schoolmate, Bjorn. He was a sportsman.

Martin knew he couldn't rob the Central Bank by himself. A job that big, a stage that big, required a supporting cast. So he found a partner, an apprentice, a Sundance kid, a Bonnie to his Clyde, a Pitt to his Clooney. an old schoolmate, Bjorn. He was a sportsman.

Now Martin has to decide which branch of the central bank of Norway they should rob. He chose the nearest one, Andramen, a mid-sized city southwest of Oslo. He went there one day to look around.

Now Martin has to decide which branch of the central bank of Norway they should rob. He chose the nearest one, Andramen, a mid-sized city southwest of Oslo. He went there one day to look around.

And yet this already was more complicated than most jobs. Martin and Bjorn would need to get to the second floor and then back down, ideally saddled with cumbersome bags of cash, all without getting shot by that armed guard. It was legal for him to shoot me. The guard, the second floor, these were just problems to be solved. Martin was patient.

And yet this already was more complicated than most jobs. Martin and Bjorn would need to get to the second floor and then back down, ideally saddled with cumbersome bags of cash, all without getting shot by that armed guard. It was legal for him to shoot me. The guard, the second floor, these were just problems to be solved. Martin was patient.

But when Martin tells me this story, he starts with his father.

But when Martin tells me this story, he starts with his father.

He watched the bank, learned its rhythms, when and how people came and went. And eventually, he discovered an elegant solution.

He watched the bank, learned its rhythms, when and how people came and went. And eventually, he discovered an elegant solution.

Martin saw a weakness, a vulnerability, in the way those sacks of money left the bank. Which was this. The police put them in the back of a car. Not an armored car, or one car in a convoy of cars. Just a regular police car. A little Scandinavian station wagon with blue lights on top. All Martin and Bjorn had to do was carjack that station wagon.

Martin saw a weakness, a vulnerability, in the way those sacks of money left the bank. Which was this. The police put them in the back of a car. Not an armored car, or one car in a convoy of cars. Just a regular police car. A little Scandinavian station wagon with blue lights on top. All Martin and Bjorn had to do was carjack that station wagon.

As always, the most important part of this job would be getting away, vanishing. Martin and Bjorn stole three cars and placed them strategically around the city, each ready to be used in a delicate choreography.

As always, the most important part of this job would be getting away, vanishing. Martin and Bjorn stole three cars and placed them strategically around the city, each ready to be used in a delicate choreography.

Martin's father was a grocer, also sold insurance. Did very well. He also came from money. The family lived in a big house that Martin's grandfather had built, and it was filled with antiques and art. Martin was the baby of the family. His father doted on him.

Martin's father was a grocer, also sold insurance. Did very well. He also came from money. The family lived in a big house that Martin's grandfather had built, and it was filled with antiques and art. Martin was the baby of the family. His father doted on him.

Four. They robbed four banks to have something to do. And then, Monday, May 19th, 1980, showtime. Martin and Bjorn had parked one of their stolen cars in a little courtyard where the police would load the cash into their station wagon. They were out on the street, watching, waiting. They saw the police car, the one that would pick up the money, pull into the courtyard.

Four. They robbed four banks to have something to do. And then, Monday, May 19th, 1980, showtime. Martin and Bjorn had parked one of their stolen cars in a little courtyard where the police would load the cash into their station wagon. They were out on the street, watching, waiting. They saw the police car, the one that would pick up the money, pull into the courtyard.

Martin demanded the key to the loaded-up station wagon, then got behind the wheel.

Martin demanded the key to the loaded-up station wagon, then got behind the wheel.

They went screaming through the streets of Drammen. Martin in a stolen police car, blue lights flashing, Bjorn following in a stolen car, like a reverse police chase. But... No one chased after them. Really. By coincidence, half the city's police force, half, was at a training seminar three hours away. There simply weren't enough cops to chase the bad guys.

They went screaming through the streets of Drammen. Martin in a stolen police car, blue lights flashing, Bjorn following in a stolen car, like a reverse police chase. But... No one chased after them. Really. By coincidence, half the city's police force, half, was at a training seminar three hours away. There simply weren't enough cops to chase the bad guys.

Martin and Bjorn drove to where they'd stashed another one of their stolen cars, one the police haven't seen them driving.

Martin and Bjorn drove to where they'd stashed another one of their stolen cars, one the police haven't seen them driving.

The police waved on this nice lady and her dog. They drove a bit further, stashed the money somewhere safe, then split up. They caught separate trains to Oslo.

The police waved on this nice lady and her dog. They drove a bit further, stashed the money somewhere safe, then split up. They caught separate trains to Oslo.

And there were six more sacks. Altogether, they'd stolen 10 million kroner. Adjusted for inflation, that's 7.5 million American dollars.

And there were six more sacks. Altogether, they'd stolen 10 million kroner. Adjusted for inflation, that's 7.5 million American dollars.

If you rob a central bank branch, there's a decent chance you're going to get a lot of currency just entering circulation. Crisp new bills. All of them will have a serial number, likely sequential ones, and the bank will know what those numbers are. Sometimes those bills will be from the same press run. Martin did not see that coming.

If you rob a central bank branch, there's a decent chance you're going to get a lot of currency just entering circulation. Crisp new bills. All of them will have a serial number, likely sequential ones, and the bank will know what those numbers are. Sometimes those bills will be from the same press run. Martin did not see that coming.

Martin thought about it and decided his best course of action would be to take those new, numbered Norwegian bills to Switzerland and exchange them for Swiss francs, bills that had not been stolen and wouldn't draw suspicion when he spent them. He ran that idea past Bjorn.

Martin thought about it and decided his best course of action would be to take those new, numbered Norwegian bills to Switzerland and exchange them for Swiss francs, bills that had not been stolen and wouldn't draw suspicion when he spent them. He ran that idea past Bjorn.

Not all the money they stole was brand new, so they split it up in such a way that Martin had all the new bills and Bjorn could walk away whole. But then Martin realized there's another complication, a sharp edge that needed to be sanded down. If spending those pristine new bills in Tonesburg would be suspicious, cashing in thousands of them at Swiss banks would be a screaming alarm.

Not all the money they stole was brand new, so they split it up in such a way that Martin had all the new bills and Bjorn could walk away whole. But then Martin realized there's another complication, a sharp edge that needed to be sanded down. If spending those pristine new bills in Tonesburg would be suspicious, cashing in thousands of them at Swiss banks would be a screaming alarm.

So Martin used a little theater magic. He made them look old.

So Martin used a little theater magic. He made them look old.

He laundered his central bank hall, physically washed it in his swimming pool, which, of course, was bought with money he'd stolen from other banks. If one fancies himself a gentleman thief, that is an awesome flex.

He laundered his central bank hall, physically washed it in his swimming pool, which, of course, was bought with money he'd stolen from other banks. If one fancies himself a gentleman thief, that is an awesome flex.

When Martin was 20 years old, his father died. It was unexpected, a heart attack, and for Martin, shattering. Not long after, his mother, worried about her finances, sold the house, Martin's childhood home. Martin was feeling lost, alone. So he got married.

When Martin was 20 years old, his father died. It was unexpected, a heart attack, and for Martin, shattering. Not long after, his mother, worried about her finances, sold the house, Martin's childhood home. Martin was feeling lost, alone. So he got married.

After the better part of a year, Martin had an enormous pile of artificially weathered and chlorine-soaked bills to transport to Switzerland. But as a general rule, one can't cross international borders with millions in undeclared cash. It has to be smuggled.

After the better part of a year, Martin had an enormous pile of artificially weathered and chlorine-soaked bills to transport to Switzerland. But as a general rule, one can't cross international borders with millions in undeclared cash. It has to be smuggled.

It wasn't a disguise so much as a costume. Martin hadn't hidden his face at all, hadn't pasted on a beard or puttied up his nose. He had to look like his new passport photo. But so what? He was in a foreign country a year after the robbery. He guessed the police had given up investigating months earlier.

It wasn't a disguise so much as a costume. Martin hadn't hidden his face at all, hadn't pasted on a beard or puttied up his nose. He had to look like his new passport photo. But so what? He was in a foreign country a year after the robbery. He guessed the police had given up investigating months earlier.

He made some investments, legitimate ones, insofar as you can make legitimate ones with stolen money. And he did very well. He bought some commercial property, started to develop it. And everything was good.

He made some investments, legitimate ones, insofar as you can make legitimate ones with stolen money. And he did very well. He bought some commercial property, started to develop it. And everything was good.

Paper currency has serial numbers. Remember?

Paper currency has serial numbers. Remember?

Martin is completely screwed. He just doesn't know it yet.

Martin is completely screwed. He just doesn't know it yet.

This was old-school shoe leather police work, asking bank tellers what they remembered about the guy who exchanged Norwegian kroner for Swiss francs. And some of them remembered just enough.

This was old-school shoe leather police work, asking bank tellers what they remembered about the guy who exchanged Norwegian kroner for Swiss francs. And some of them remembered just enough.

A lot of people gave a lot of names to the police, 80 or so altogether. Police gathered the passport photos of those 80 or so people.

A lot of people gave a lot of names to the police, 80 or so altogether. Police gathered the passport photos of those 80 or so people.

That was in November 1981, 18 months after the central bank job.

That was in November 1981, 18 months after the central bank job.

There is, from one perspective, beauty in those smallest of details. Any lunkhead can point a gun at a bank teller and demand money, and those lunkheads almost always get caught. Martin got away with 19 bank robberies because of everything that came before that moment.

There is, from one perspective, beauty in those smallest of details. Any lunkhead can point a gun at a bank teller and demand money, and those lunkheads almost always get caught. Martin got away with 19 bank robberies because of everything that came before that moment.

Martin, however, did not want to be a teacher. In his heart, he was still an actor. And then one day, he heard about this amazing character.

Martin, however, did not want to be a teacher. In his heart, he was still an actor. And then one day, he heard about this amazing character.

The planning, developing the characters and the accents and disguises, the rehearsals, the little touches designed specifically to throw investigators off his tail.

The planning, developing the characters and the accents and disguises, the rehearsals, the little touches designed specifically to throw investigators off his tail.

He revealed those details for two reasons. One, since they'd never been made public, the police would understand that only the real robber would know them.

He revealed those details for two reasons. One, since they'd never been made public, the police would understand that only the real robber would know them.

two they're sublime martin was creating characters bank robbers all of them but still each one a character with a backstory and habits and quirks it was inevitable really that he would confess it all i was in the theater but i wanted more to be an actor i've been acting lots in theater since i was a little boy i was in the theater

two they're sublime martin was creating characters bank robbers all of them but still each one a character with a backstory and habits and quirks it was inevitable really that he would confess it all i was in the theater but i wanted more to be an actor i've been acting lots in theater since i was a little boy i was in the theater

Martin had written and directed 19 performances, almost all of them flawless. And if one wasn't flawless, he improvised, never broke character. And yet no one had ever applauded. Confessing was his curtain call.

Martin had written and directed 19 performances, almost all of them flawless. And if one wasn't flawless, he improvised, never broke character. And yet no one had ever applauded. Confessing was his curtain call.

And I'm not sure I believe that story. Still, it's a nice scene. Martin and his no longer stumped pursuers having a chuckle and a meal together. The Coca-Cola is a nice touch. Bjorn eventually was arrested, convicted, and sentenced to seven years in prison, though he was released after less than three.

And I'm not sure I believe that story. Still, it's a nice scene. Martin and his no longer stumped pursuers having a chuckle and a meal together. The Coca-Cola is a nice touch. Bjorn eventually was arrested, convicted, and sentenced to seven years in prison, though he was released after less than three.

As for Martin, he was convicted on multiple counts of bank robbery in the spring of 1982 and sentenced to 12 years in prison. With time off for good behavior and such, he served only eight months. He made very good use of those years. Scandinavian attitudes towards crime and punishment are considerably more pragmatic than, say, American ones. Martin went to school, university, then law school.

As for Martin, he was convicted on multiple counts of bank robbery in the spring of 1982 and sentenced to 12 years in prison. With time off for good behavior and such, he served only eight months. He made very good use of those years. Scandinavian attitudes towards crime and punishment are considerably more pragmatic than, say, American ones. Martin went to school, university, then law school.

He became the lawyer his mother always wanted him to be. You robbed 19 banks, but somehow don't seem to have been seen as a bad guy.

He became the lawyer his mother always wanted him to be. You robbed 19 banks, but somehow don't seem to have been seen as a bad guy.

And I did, in a way, but that was too late. About the time Martin was getting out of prison in 1990, his mother bought a three-story building in the center of Osgutstrand, a little village on the fjord south of Oslo, and only a few miles from Tonsberg, where he grew up. Martin moved into the top two floors, which left the ground floor vacant.

And I did, in a way, but that was too late. About the time Martin was getting out of prison in 1990, his mother bought a three-story building in the center of Osgutstrand, a little village on the fjord south of Oslo, and only a few miles from Tonsberg, where he grew up. Martin moved into the top two floors, which left the ground floor vacant.

That's true. Munch had a small house overlooking the fjord.

That's true. Munch had a small house overlooking the fjord.

There's a fair amount of cheek in that name, considering Martin began his former life of crime by stealing Munch lithographs from a wealthy widow. Those pieces were eventually returned. But he did hang copies of at least two of those, one called Madonna and the other Jealousy, in his café. He also had a wall of framed newspaper clippings about his exploits. Come in.

There's a fair amount of cheek in that name, considering Martin began his former life of crime by stealing Munch lithographs from a wealthy widow. Those pieces were eventually returned. But he did hang copies of at least two of those, one called Madonna and the other Jealousy, in his café. He also had a wall of framed newspaper clippings about his exploits. Come in.

Yeah, I'm the bank robber. That's how I heard about him. Two of those tourists are friends of mine, and they told me about this charming gentleman they met in this Norwegian village. Martin still lives above the cafe with his fourth wife and their toddler son. But he sold the cafe last year. He's 71 years old now, and his knees are shot. He started running marathons in prison with a Soviet spy.

Yeah, I'm the bank robber. That's how I heard about him. Two of those tourists are friends of mine, and they told me about this charming gentleman they met in this Norwegian village. Martin still lives above the cafe with his fourth wife and their toddler son. But he sold the cafe last year. He's 71 years old now, and his knees are shot. He started running marathons in prison with a Soviet spy.

And you know what? It's a good story. But it's at this point, when you're being charmed by this man and these stories, that you have to remind yourself, just for the record, that robbing banks is... very bad, especially when you're pointing guns at people. Martin, of course, knows this, just as he knows that he badly traumatized some people in his outlaw days.

And you know what? It's a good story. But it's at this point, when you're being charmed by this man and these stories, that you have to remind yourself, just for the record, that robbing banks is... very bad, especially when you're pointing guns at people. Martin, of course, knows this, just as he knows that he badly traumatized some people in his outlaw days.

And yet, all these years later, he's still playing a bank robber. The character has evolved. He's kind of a scamp now. And Martin brings him out whenever it seems appropriate, which is more often than one would think. One afternoon, Martin and I, along with his wife and son, went to Oslo to tour the Munch Museum. It's in a new building by the opera house.

And yet, all these years later, he's still playing a bank robber. The character has evolved. He's kind of a scamp now. And Martin brings him out whenever it seems appropriate, which is more often than one would think. One afternoon, Martin and I, along with his wife and son, went to Oslo to tour the Munch Museum. It's in a new building by the opera house.

We saw only part of it because it's enormous and because Martin was a week away from getting a knee replaced. We took photos in front of some of the original paintings that he stole lithographs of all those years ago. It was fun. We got separated on our way out. I found him after a few minutes near the gift shop with four befuddled German tourists. Martin was chuckling.

We saw only part of it because it's enormous and because Martin was a week away from getting a knee replaced. We took photos in front of some of the original paintings that he stole lithographs of all those years ago. It was fun. We got separated on our way out. I found him after a few minutes near the gift shop with four befuddled German tourists. Martin was chuckling.

They don't believe me, he said. Go on, tell them. I didn't have to ask what he was talking about. It's true, I told the Germans. Norway's biggest bank robber. Their eyes got a little wide, and they smiled, as if we'd pulled off some mildly amusing party trick. And it seemed, just for a second, like they might even politely applaud. Yeah.

They don't believe me, he said. Go on, tell them. I didn't have to ask what he was talking about. It's true, I told the Germans. Norway's biggest bank robber. Their eyes got a little wide, and they smiled, as if we'd pulled off some mildly amusing party trick. And it seemed, just for a second, like they might even politely applaud. Yeah.

Munch is a Norwegian icon and one of the most influential artists of the 19th and 20th centuries. If the name is unfamiliar, that's probably because it's pronounced Munch, but spelled like Munch. You definitely recognize his most iconic work, The Scream, even if you only saw it on a coffee mug or in an internet meme.

Munch is a Norwegian icon and one of the most influential artists of the 19th and 20th centuries. If the name is unfamiliar, that's probably because it's pronounced Munch, but spelled like Munch. You definitely recognize his most iconic work, The Scream, even if you only saw it on a coffee mug or in an internet meme.

That was the beginning, how it started. A young man, heartbroken and adrift, play-acting as a French TV thief. But it worked. Easter 1974. The widow was away. Martin snuck up to her house in the dark.

That was the beginning, how it started. A young man, heartbroken and adrift, play-acting as a French TV thief. But it worked. Easter 1974. The widow was away. Martin snuck up to her house in the dark.

He left through the front door, which he realized could only be locked from the inside.

He left through the front door, which he realized could only be locked from the inside.

A masterpiece. In this little fantasy, Martin imagined himself to be an elegant thief, a sophisticate. And now the reviews were in. The police were convinced. A debonair bandit clearly was afoot. In Martin's real life, his wife gave birth to their first son later that spring. He was studying to be a teacher. The responsibility, the routine, already were suffocating.

A masterpiece. In this little fantasy, Martin imagined himself to be an elegant thief, a sophisticate. And now the reviews were in. The police were convinced. A debonair bandit clearly was afoot. In Martin's real life, his wife gave birth to their first son later that spring. He was studying to be a teacher. The responsibility, the routine, already were suffocating.

Could you just start by introducing yourself?

Could you just start by introducing yourself?

Wait, hold up here. Yeah. So you went into an empty house or a house where nobody was home.

Wait, hold up here. Yeah. So you went into an empty house or a house where nobody was home.

And took five lithographs. Yeah. And then you have a new baby.

And took five lithographs. Yeah. And then you have a new baby.

And you think you would like a nice house, so let's rob a bank.

And you think you would like a nice house, so let's rob a bank.

There's a lot of ways to get a nice house that don't involve robbing a bank. Yeah.

There's a lot of ways to get a nice house that don't involve robbing a bank. Yeah.

This was not a reckless impulse, a spur-of-the-moment cash grab. Martin prepared. First, he got a gun. He disguised himself as a military officer and drove to a barracks.

This was not a reckless impulse, a spur-of-the-moment cash grab. Martin prepared. First, he got a gun. He disguised himself as a military officer and drove to a barracks.

Then he studied, researched, scouted. He chose a small bank in a nearby village called Sem. Only four, maybe five people working, cash in wooden drawers behind the counter, and a stairway leading down to the vault. No cameras. This was 1974 in a small Norwegian town. But remember, the point was to steal a lot of money.

Then he studied, researched, scouted. He chose a small bank in a nearby village called Sem. Only four, maybe five people working, cash in wooden drawers behind the counter, and a stairway leading down to the vault. No cameras. This was 1974 in a small Norwegian town. But remember, the point was to steal a lot of money.

The day of the robbery, he took a train to a different town about 15 miles south of Semm.

The day of the robbery, he took a train to a different town about 15 miles south of Semm.

And then I went around in the streets. He's looking for a car to steal, one with the keys in it, because Martin doesn't actually know how to steal a car. It took a while.

And then I went around in the streets. He's looking for a car to steal, one with the keys in it, because Martin doesn't actually know how to steal a car. It took a while.

Martin got to the bank, and immediately there's a problem. A taxi, right out front, near a big window with a clear view of the stairway to the vault, where the money Martin ordered should be safely locked up.

Martin got to the bank, and immediately there's a problem. A taxi, right out front, near a big window with a clear view of the stairway to the vault, where the money Martin ordered should be safely locked up.

The bank was about to close, but Martin caught the bank manager just in time.

The bank was about to close, but Martin caught the bank manager just in time.

Well, let's just start then with 19 bank robberies. Why did you rob 19 banks?

Well, let's just start then with 19 bank robberies. Why did you rob 19 banks?

There were no bullets in the gun. That's intentional. Martin wanted to be scary, not deadly. But he's the only one who knew that.

There were no bullets in the gun. That's intentional. Martin wanted to be scary, not deadly. But he's the only one who knew that.

Again, Martin was the only one who knew his machine gun wasn't loaded. And then I said, I want your money. He tossed a bag to the manager, told her to fill it with cash from the drawers. But the big money, the money he ordered, was downstairs in the vault. And that taxi driver, who could see the stairs to the vault, he was still outside.

Again, Martin was the only one who knew his machine gun wasn't loaded. And then I said, I want your money. He tossed a bag to the manager, told her to fill it with cash from the drawers. But the big money, the money he ordered, was downstairs in the vault. And that taxi driver, who could see the stairs to the vault, he was still outside.

There was no time to raid the vault. So Martin abandoned the quarter million kroner he'd ordered, left with what he got from the drawers. He walked to the car, calmly, and drove away. He hid his gun and the money where he could find them later, ditched the car, then slipped into the woods and lost the disguise. He came out in a tracksuit and jogged home to Tonesburg.

There was no time to raid the vault. So Martin abandoned the quarter million kroner he'd ordered, left with what he got from the drawers. He walked to the car, calmly, and drove away. He hid his gun and the money where he could find them later, ditched the car, then slipped into the woods and lost the disguise. He came out in a tracksuit and jogged home to Tonesburg.

So it wasn't a flawless job, but he did all right. 230,000 kroner. Enough to buy a house, which was the whole point.

So it wasn't a flawless job, but he did all right. 230,000 kroner. Enough to buy a house, which was the whole point.

By the spring of 1975, Martin was broke.

By the spring of 1975, Martin was broke.

He repeated the entire process. He got a new gun because he'd thrown the first ones from a bridge, believing that he wouldn't be committing any more armed robberies. He got a revolver, a .357 Magnum from a mail-order catalog. Then he picked out a bank, cased it, robbed it, and got away clean.

He repeated the entire process. He got a new gun because he'd thrown the first ones from a bridge, believing that he wouldn't be committing any more armed robberies. He got a revolver, a .357 Magnum from a mail-order catalog. Then he picked out a bank, cased it, robbed it, and got away clean.

Well, some people wondered.

Well, some people wondered.