Serial Bandit Favored CUs

SEATTLE - (02/01/05) -- A 41-year-old Vancouver, Wash., manwas sentenced last week to 20 years in prison after he confessed to10 robberies in the Puget Sound area--eight of them at creditunions. Clifford Uptegrove was arrested last March 25 after herobbed Riverview Community Bank in Hazel Dell, Wash., of more than$13,000, then made his getaway on a bicycle. Witnesses calledpolice when they saw Uptegrove loading the bike in a van becausethey thought he was stealing the bike. When questioned by policeUptegrove confessed to robbing the 10 institutions, includingKennewick Community FCU on March 1, 2001; Spokane City CU on July1, 2002; Oregon Central CU on July 3, 2003; Kennewick Community FCUagain on August 27, 2003; Spokane City CU again on January 27,2004; Oregon Central CU again on February 6, 2004; and Olympia CUon March 1, 2004.