cjh (07/08/82)
McMurray, Pa.(AP) Thieves disguised as circus clowns stole \$15,000 from an armored van parked in front of a shopping center bank branch Wednesday, authorities said. Two men were dressed in clown costumes and wearing full make-up, enter- taining children in the Donaldson's Crossroads Shopping Center parking lot when two guards from Landmark Security Transport Inc. of Pittsburgh left a Mellon Bank branch, said FBI spokesman Jeff Kimball. "Apparently they were very good clowns," Kimball said. "They were enter- taining kids and their parents for some time as they waited for guards to come out." The clowns approached the two guards "in a humorous fashion" and then pulled out a sawed-off shotgun and a handgun, suprising the drivers, Kimball said. This is from July 8,82 Chi. Tribune. C.J.Holzwarth