FAIRFIELD TOWNSHIP, Ohio — Investigators said 74-year-old Ann Mayers removed the license plate from her car, drove from Hamilton to a credit union, robbed it — getting less than $1,000 — drove to a store to make a return and then home, where she was in the backyard when police closed in on her as a suspect, according to the the Fairfield Twp. Police report.
The Parrish Avenue woman with no criminal history was arrested Friday less than two hours after allegedly robbing AurGroup Credit Union on Creekside Drive in Fairfield Twp. She is charged with aggravated robbery, including use of a gun, a first-degree felony, and tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony.
Detective Brandon McCroskey said Mayers had financial issues and after talking with family, she may have been scammed out of “a lot of money.”
According to the police report, when officers arrived at her house, Mayers was with her sister. She said, “I know why you’re here.”
When the officer said “Why is that?,” Mayers replied, “The bank, AurGroup, I did it.”
Mayers made the statement recorded on the officer’s body camera at 3:06 p.m., less than two hours after the robbery was reported at 1:31 p.m..
Mayers told officers where to find the stolen cash, totaling $568 in a Kroger bag attached to the shift knob and the loaded Colt. 38 caliber revolver under the driver’s seat.
Credit union employees said the robber had two bags, one of which carried a visible gun.
Mayers said she took the license plate off the vehicle before the robbery and threw out a bag, clothing and mask she was wearing. Police were unable to find the clothing after tracking her route after the robbery, which included a trip to Kohl’s to return some jeans, according to the police report.
The sister told police Mayers was scammed out of thousands of dollars from someone online, according to the police report. The sister also sent information to detectives about a person to whom she believed persuaded Mayers to send money.
“This person allegedly told Ann that they are with U.S. Customs,” detectives wrote in the report.
On Sunday in a call from the Butler County Jail, Mayers apologized to her sister, saying she doesn’t know why she did it, according to police. She also stated someone was going to “take their house” because she owes them $65,000.
Bond was set at $100,000 for Mayers during her Monday video arraignment. She is scheduled to be in county Area II Court on Wednesday for a preliminary hearing.
