Woman Accused of Breaking Into Bank With Toy Gun to Access Her Own Savings Account

The woman and a group of Lebanese activists obtained approximately $13,000 from her savings account to help her sister pay for cancer treatment.

Getty Images

A woman carrying a toy gun broke into a bank in Beirut on Wednesday and obtained $13,000 from her savings account after she was denied access, according to NPR.

Videos by Rare

The woman, Sali Hafez, reportedly said she wanted the money so she could help her sister pay to acquire medical treatment for cancer. Best Bank in Lebanon (BLOM) only allowed her to withdraw $200 in Lebanese pounds on a monthly basis.

Hafez allegedly obtained the toy gun that she brandished in the savings account heist from her nephew.

“I had begged the branch manager before for my money, and I told him my sister was dying, didn’t have much time left,” she reportedly said. “I reached a point where I had nothing else to lose.”

Due to a failing economy, banks in Lebanon reportedly limit how much foreign currency their customers can withdraw. The banks started implementing the measures in 2019; three-quarters of Lebanon’s population is now in poverty.

The Savings Account Heist: What Happened

NPR said Hafez entered the BLOM branch and its manager’s office on Wednesday with a Lebanese activist group named Depositors’ Outcry. They allegedly demanded bank employees provide $12,000 and about $1,000 in Lebanese pounds from her savings account, and broke at least one window.

A bank customer reportedly said the group also poured gasoline and threatened to ignite it with a lighter. Furthermore, Hafez threatened to shoot the manager, NPR reported.

Hafez reportedly said she had $20,000 in her savings account and, before raiding the bank branch, had sold personal items to help with her 23-year-old sister’s cancer treatment. She further claimed she thought about selling a kidney to raise money.

Additionally, Hafez reportedly live-streamed the incident on Facebook and said she didn’t mean any harm.

“I did not break into the bank to kill anyone or set the place on fire,” Hafez said, per NPR. “I am here to get my rights.”

Hafez reportedly told other BLOM customers in a situation similar to hers to carry out similar measures. Accordingly, Depositors’ Outcry said it would coordinate more bank heists to help BLOM customers, according to The Associated Press.

What do you think?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Whitney Houston’s Biopic Trailer Released, Set to His Theaters in December

Chick-fil-A Employee Rescues Mom and Baby After Fighting Off Carjacker