ST. PAUL, Minn. – A local man who robbed six area institutions last fall was stopped from a seventh heist and captured after a teller at a local bank refused to cough up the cash.
Steven Olson, 48, who on Tuesday confessed in court to the five-week robbery spree, was caught after an Oct. 30 hold up at Wakota FCU, where he made off with just $1,514.
Police nabbed Olson a short while after the credit union heist when a witness followed Olson's car. The witness, in his own vehicle, called 911 on his cell phone and reported Olson's location to police.
Officers then pursued Olson about two miles before he jumped from his car and tried to run. He was quickly nabbed. A search of his vehicle turned up a toy revolver, loose currency and other evidence.
Olson’s only unsuccessful robbery during the spree was an Oct. 20 attempt at Bank Cherokee. A teller rejected his demands for money even though he pointed what appeared to be a handgun at her. He fled without getting any money.
