A bank teller gave up thousands to an unarmed man. A second try landed him in handcuffs.
Police say 35-year-old Shawn Greene took $10,000 from a Culver City bank before trying again in West Hollywood.
When a stranger hints he has a gun, you do not wait to find out if he is lying. You hand over the cash and hope you see your family tonight.
What Happened
On June 2, a man walked into a bank on Culver Center Drive. He walked up to the teller window and handed over a note demanding money.
He did not show a weapon. Instead, he kept reaching for his waistband and said he had a gun. Terrified workers gave him $10,000. He fled on foot.
Ten days later, police say 35-year-old Shawn Greene tried the same thing at another bank in West Hollywood. This time, sheriff's deputies caught him. Culver City police say Greene confessed to both crimes while in jail.
What the money and evidence shows
- $10,000 stolen from the first bank on June 2.
- 0 weapons shown during the first robbery.
- 10 days between the first robbery and the arrest.
- 2 counts of bank robbery filed by prosecutors.
- 1 confession reported by Culver City detectives.
The Bigger Question
How do banks keep staff safe when they cannot tell if a threat is real or a bluff? In this case, employees made the right call to protect their lives over paper money.
But it raises questions about how easily a single note can disrupt a community hub. We must ask if banks need better security to stop unarmed threats before they reach the counter.
The Other Side
We do not yet have a statement from Shawn Greene or his lawyer. Police say Greene confessed to the first robbery during an interview in jail. While confessions are strong evidence, courts must still verify if police got the statement fairly without any pressure.
What Happens Now
Greene is now facing two felony bank robbery charges. He will remain in custody while the court schedules his trial. For local bank workers, it is a reminder of the daily risks they face just doing their jobs.
What We Still Don't Know
- Did Greene actually have a weapon during either robbery?
- What drove him to target another bank just ten days later?
- Which West Hollywood bank was targeted in the second attempt?
Transparency notes
Published: Jun 17, 2026. No major post-publication update has been logged.
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Sources
External source links were not provided in this article body. Our editors reference publicly available materials and update stories as new verified information arrives.