The Heist

It was December 24, 2017, and New York City was alive with holiday hustle. Shoppers, tourists, and commuters flooded the streets, their breath rising in clouds in the frigid air. Christmas lights sparkled in every shop in the city. For most, it was just another busy day, the last-minute scramble for gifts, families waiting for the subway to take them to their grandma’s house, and taxis honking in a rush to JFK. But for me, Jermmy Bobbé, it was the perfect opportunity for something much bigger. 

You might be wondering what was this big plan of mine, this was not a plan, this was a mission. What was the goal of this mission, to take all the money from the target. What was this target in mind? The Bank of America Building on 6th Avenue, one of the biggest buildings in New York, housed more than enough cash to make my holiday memorable. I had spent the past few months meticulously planning every detail, learning the layout, the security measures, and the schedules of the employees. Christmas Eve was the perfect day: the vault would be empty, the bank largely deserted, and the crowds outside would serve as cover. The plan was simple. Step one: get inside. Step two: grab the cash. Step three: slip away unnoticed. 

To blend in, I borrowed a security guard uniform from a friend who worked at Wells Fargo. The disguise was perfect, I'd be just another security guard, checking if the vault was secure. The only problem was the small detail, the Wells Fargo logo stamped on the chest of my uniform. It was small, only 1in x 2in logo, nobody would notice. After all, how many people actually paid attention to the security guards.

I pushed through the front doors of Bank of America and immediately felt the rush of adrenaline. The lobby was nearly empty, save for a few stragglers waiting for the holidays to pass before they closed. I made my way straight for the service elevator, walking with purpose, as my old teacher would say, pretending to do my rounds as any good security guard would. I had memorized every inch of this place, the placement of cameras, the layout of the halls, and the position of the vault. The plan was foolproof, and for a moment, I allowed myself to smile. I was finally living out my dream. 

The elevator doors slid open with a soft ding, and I stepped into the basement. The heavy hum of fluorescent lights filled the air, and I felt the cold concrete beneath my shoes. I was closer now, so close I could practically taste it. The vault was at the end of a long corridor. I had already disabled the security cameras earlier in the day, and with no one in sight, I felt invincible. Then I heard footsteps, gradually getting louder and louder with every step. 

I froze, pressing myself against the wall to avoid being seen. A real security guard, a big guy, easily over six feet, rounded the corner, walking directly toward me. I was afraid, this guy could totally knock me out, but I had to keep calm. For a moment, neither of us moved, my heart thundered in my chest. “What are you doing down here?” the guard asked, his voice low but authoritative. I quickly straightened my uniform and put on my most confident, official look. “Routine check,” I said, trying to be as formal as him. “Just making sure everything is secure before the holiday rush.” He raised an eyebrow, studying me for a beat. The silence stretched on, but I didn’t break my gaze. I couldn’t afford to look nervous. The guard hesitated but then gave me a slow nod. “Okay. Don’t be long, though. The vault’s closing soon.” I swallowed a sigh of relief, offering a tight smile. “Of course. Thank you so much.” I turned and walked away, my pulse finally slowing, but the dread of the close call still hanging in the air. 

That was too close. As I made my way back to the elevator, I kept my head down, trying to act like nothing ever happened. The guard didn’t follow, but I still felt the weight of his eyes on my back. 

I stepped off the elevator and into the lobby, only to be stopped by two more officers. I thought Great, this is it. They were standing by the bank’s entrance, looking at me with suspicion. One of them gave my uniform a long, hard look. “Hey,” one of them said, voice sharp and clear. “You don’t look familiar. Why do you have a Wells Fargo logo? What’s your name?” My stomach twisted into a knot. I had to think fast. “Routine check,” I repeated, trying to keep my composure. “Security. I’m just here filling in for one of your employees. The manager at Wells Fargo sent me. There was someone who called out for the holidays.” The officer didn’t look convinced. His eyes narrowed as he pulled out his phone, clearly searching for something. “Wait a second” he muttered, his eyes scanning the screen on his iPad. He glanced at me again, his expression growing darker by the minute. “You’re not on the list. You don’t work here.” My blood ran cold, and my throat tightened to smaller than a dime. I thought, This was it. I’m caught.

I saw my chance. I lunged forward, shoving past the first officer, and knocking him off balance. The second officer tried to grab my arm, but I wrenched it free, and in that instant, I was running. I bolted for the front doors, adrenaline pumping through my veins. I heard the officers shout behind me, but I didn’t look back. The crowd was thick outside, perfect. I darted between pedestrians, slipping past tourists and holiday shoppers who barely noticed the chaos behind them. I took a sharp left into a narrow side street, my heart racing. I glanced back only once to see the officers struggling to push through the crowd. I had a head start. They were still a few yards behind, but they weren’t going to catch me. Not yet. I ducked into a small café, the warmth of the place a stark contrast to the cold air outside. I quickly peeled off the security uniform and stuffed it into my bag. Sitting at an empty table, I took a deep breath, trying to steady my racing heart. My hands shook, but I couldn’t help the grin that spread across my face. I’d done it. I had pulled off the perfect heist.