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Police: Armed Woman, 75, Dons Steelers Ski Mask, Holds Up Bank

POSTED: 11:40 am EST March 6, 2006
UPDATED: 6:10 pm EST March 6, 2006

Police have captured an elderly woman who they say tried to rob a bank with a gun in West Mifflin on Monday morning.

Officers said the attempted holdup happened at a National City Bank inside a Shop 'n Save grocery store in the Century Square shopping plaza at about 10:30 a.m.

Police said that Marilyn Devine, 75, from Baldwin, wore a Steelers ski mask during the holdup and escaped in a tan Ford Escort with less than $5,000.

After a five-mile pursuit at speeds of 40 to 45 mph, police pulled Devine over.

"I'm shocked. It's unreal. You seen the lady here -- she's probably anybody's grandmother. It's unreal," said West Mifflin Police Chief Joe Popovich.

Devine confessed to stealing her husband's handgun, donning the Steelers mask and pointing the gun at tellers, police said.

"She went to the first teller -- male teller -- and demanded all the money he had. He gave her the money. She brandished a black handgun," Popovich said.

The gun was not loaded, police said.

Police said Devine then went to the next teller, demanding more money. Police said she told the woman not to throw any tracking dye onto any of the dollar bills.

Married for 32 years, Devine's husband told Channel 4 Action News reporter Janelle Hall that he is devastated and that his wife does not have any kind of criminal background.

"I'm going to try to do whatever I have to do to get her back," Ray Devine said.

Devine -- who will undergo a psychological evaluation -- is in jail after no one could post the $100,000 bail. Besides robbery and gun charges, she is charged with fleeing and eluding police.
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