The Albany Echo: Bungling Burglars Botch Bank Job

What a captivating headline it was — “Bungling Burglars Botch Bank Job.” The Fort Worth Star-Telegram ran that title in 1964, recounting a crime that unfolded in Moran. The break-in at the Moran National Bank, which took place in the early hours of February 7, 1964, remains one of the most fascinating burglaries in this area’s history.

It’s 7:30 am on an ordinary Friday in Moran when Don Ellis, a 31-year-old cashier and vice president at Moran National Bank, arrived at the building located on Ground Street. As he stepped out of his car and approached the bank’s front entrance, an unusual sight caught his eye – a trail of scattered pennies leading directly to the entrance. Instantly, a sense of suspicion crept over him. Upon entering the bank, Don’s suspicions were confirmed, revealing the full scope of the crime that had unfolded.

Rewinding the clock a few hours, the burglars had struck in the dead of night, around 4:00 am. They infiltrated the bank by breaking into an office behind the building and then proceeded to break through a wall to gain access to the bank’s board of directors’ room.

The burglars then utilized a cutting torch to create a 24-inch by 18-inch hole in the vault door. Once they were inside the vault, their ambitious attempt to open the 3,000-pound safe, which contained $28,000 (about $277,000 today), proved futile. The safe remained stubbornly sealed shut, even after using the cutting torch and a sledgehammer.

Frustrated by their inability to access the large safe, the thieves resorted to pilfering whatever they could find in the vault, making off with an estimated 200 pounds of silver coins valued at $1,279 in 1964, equivalent to approximately $12,700 today. 

The damage caused during the heist far exceeded the monetary value of the loot that was taken. The breached wall, cut vault door, and damaged safe left a lasting imprint on the bank. Astonishingly, it was later discovered that the vault door had been unlocked, making the burglars’ meticulous cutting unnecessary. 

Upon discovering the crime scene, Ellis promptly contacted Shackelford County Sheriff Jack Moberley, who, in turn, called in the assistance of the FBI office in Abilene and later involved the Justice Department in the investigation. Sheriff Moberley humorously commented on the difficulty of dealing with the overturned safe, stating, “We’re having more trouble right now than they did last night.”

The Moran National Bank burglary stands as one of the great mysteries of the area, reminding us of a captivating piece of history that still holds the community’s fascination 60 years after that audacious heist. Despite extensive investigations and numerous leads followed, the burglars were never found, and at this point, they never will be. This unsolved aspect of the case continues to add an air of intrigue to the story, leaving us with unanswered questions about the identity and fate of the elusive criminals who orchestrated this daring crime.

In the immortal words of the legendary Robert Stack, who famously concluded each episode of Unsolved Mysteries, we shall conclude this narrative with the following message: “If you or anyone you know has any information about the cases you’ve seen on tonight’s program, please call...” the Shackelford County Sheriff’s office.