Would-be robber foiled by bank employee

BALDWIN PARK, Calif., April 27 (UPI) -- A Baldwin Park, Calif., bank employee thwarted a robber when she tricked the man into letting her to leave the building, and then locked him inside.

Mark King, 36, grabbed the employee in the parking lot about 8:30 a.m., Wednesday, forcing her inside. Pretending to disarm the security system, she actually alerted the police, who soon surrounded the bank, the San Gabriel Valley Tribune reported.

When King ordered her to open the safe, she told him two tellers were needed. He said to go outside and act normal while they waited for a second employee -- which she did, just before locking the door.

Baldwin Park police negotiated by telephone with King, who eventually put down his gun, removed some clothing to show he had no concealed weapons and lay down until officers arrested him, Capt. Michael Taylor said.

FBI agents were also at the scene because they suspect King is a serial robber, Taylor said. No money was stolen.

"I don't think he got anything except for a bad day," the captain said.