Note to prospective burglars: When robbing a bank, don't wear a name tag. That inattention to detail derailed a 68-year-old would-be robber this week who was arrested on suspicion of robbing a Denver bank.

John Martinez approached a woman teller at a Wells Fargo bank branch at Pecos Street and West 38th Avenue around 9 a.m. Tuesday. Sporting a salt-and-pepper beard and white hair, he allegedly handed the teller a dark zippered bag and note that said: "This is a robbery, give me the money," according to arrest reports. While the teller filled up the bag with cash, Martinez stopped her finally, reportedly saying, "That's enough."

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Enough indeed, Martinez got away initially with an unspecified amount of money. However, he overlooked one not-so-minor detail. He wore a T-shirt with the name "John" imprinted on the chest.

Martinez wasn't the smoothest burglar when it came to making a quick getaway either. He walked leisurely, not a care in the world, to what turned out to be his own vehicle, a silver 2001 Honda Accord. Witnesses to the robbery wrote down his vehicle's license plate as he fled.

Putting two and two, or in this case name tag, and vehicle license plate, together, it wasn't long before authorities came to realization that Martinez may have been involved with the bank caper. Police matched his DMV photo with surveillance footage taken by bank cameras. They showed bank personnel a photo lineup during which tellers immediately identified Martinez as the man with the alleged bank robbery plan.

Denver police officers located Martinez around 2 p.m. at Room 42 of the nearby Ramada Inn at 2601 Zuni St.. He had gone home, in this case the motel room, and told his wife he "borrowed" the money that he allegedly took from the bank, police said. He failed to mention anything about a robbery at the bank, his wife told police.

The unusual crime story didn't stop there. As police drove Martinez to FBI Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force Headquarters, one of the arresting detectives received a cell phone call from a supervisor. Upon hearing part of that conversation, Martinez said, "He probably wants to tell you he found the money that I took from the bank this morning."

Martinez further waived his right to reman silent. During police interviews, Martinez said he and his wife had been evicted three weeks previously, hence the need for some fast cash. They moved into the motel over the weekend. He snuck out of the room while his wife was sleeping and headed to the nearby bank.

Martinez was booked into Denver jail on suspicion of felony robbery of more than $20,000. He had precious arrests for everything from forgery and criminal impersonation to DUI hit and run, assault with a deadly weapon, and resisting arrest, according to state investigators.

Tagsweird crime, unusual crime, bank robbery, Denver crime news, police