Skip to main content

Woman, 66 with Cancer, Tackles Armed Bank Robber

By Stephanie Rabiner, Esq. on April 04, 2011 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

Despite occurring on April 1st, it was not an April Fool's joke.

Renee Green really was trying to rob a Florida bank on Friday, and sixty-six year-old cancer fighter Helen Dunsford definitely tackled the would-be bank robber, body slamming her to the floor.

Why'd she do it? Only God can kill her now.

Friday morning, Green entered a local bank, and with her hand inside her purse, ordered everyone to the floor, reports the Sun-Sentinel. She then demanded $10,000.

Helen Dunsford then grabbed Green in a bear hug, just as a man that was with Renee Green shouted that the suspect was mentally ill, according to the Sun Sentinel.

When officials arrived, Green tried to tell them that it was an April Fool's joke, notes NBC Miami.

Even if it were a joke, it's still a criminal act to walk into a bank and pretend to rob it. Green may be able to prove that she had no intent to rob the bank, but she will have a very difficult time showing that she did not commit assault or engage in some form of criminal mischief.

As for Helen Dunsford, officials caution that it is not a prudent idea to tackle criminals, and that instead of plotting an attack, bystanders should try to be good witnesses.

But Helen Dunsford is a special woman, willing to die for many an important cause.

In addition to risking her life for bank customers, the Sun-Sentinel reports that last year she told Fort Lauderdale officials that she would be willing to die to protect her things--the city was trying to remove four decades worth of belongings stored on her front yard.


Related Resources:

Copied to clipboard