Robbery suspect claims 44 heists across US
TULSA — A man police arrested Wednesday night in connection with a south Tulsa bank robbery allegedly confessed to four bank robberies in east Oklahoma and one in Pennsylvania.
The man, identified as Victor Alan Siegrist, “went on to claim” responsibility for 44 more robberies throughout the U.S., Tulsa police officer W. McAllister states in a probable cause affidavit.
Siegrist, 54, of Vinita, allegedly robbed two Tulsa banks within five days: a Commerce Bank, located at 5314 S Yale Ave., on Sept. 22, and a Bank of Oklahoma, located at 7121 S Sheridan Road, on Sept. 27. Police arrested Siegrist at the River Spirit Casino, where he was being detained by Muscogee (Creek) Nation Lighthorse tribal police.
“The surveillance was reviewed from both bank robberies,” McAllister states in the affidavit. “Both robberies were committed by the same person.”
At the Commerce Bank, Siegrist allegedly entered it and asked questions about the ATM. Police state in the affidavit that he was “casing” it.
Later that day, the robber followed a delivery driver into the bank, where tellers have to buzz in visitors. The robber, who was wearing a casino T-shirt, demanded money from the till before fleeing with an undisclosed amount of cash.
At the Bank of Oklahoma, Siegrist is accused of entering the bank about 12:30 p.m. Wednesday and demanding money from a specific till. The robber fled with an undisclosed amount of cash.
Wednesday’s investigation led police to a Tulsa motel, but they did not locate their suspect. Police distributed surveillance images and suspect information to area casinos after the motel lead fell through.
Late that evening, lighthorse tribal police detained Siegrist at the River Spirit Casino in southeast Tulsa. Tulsa police arrested Siegrist there on two complaints of robbery by force or fear.
Siegrist allegedly admitted to the two robberies. Police state in the affidavit that he went on to confess to two October 2016 bank robberies in Broken Arrow and one robbery in Grove City, Pennsylvania, according to the affidavit. He allegedly told police that he committed 44 other robberies across the U.S.
Siegrist also is charged in Muskogee County in connection with a 2014 bank robbery in Muskogee, according to court documents. Siegrist is scheduled Oct. 23 for a preliminary hearing in that case.
Siegrist was booked into Tulsajailonthetworobbery complaints. He is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail.