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I know a guy who walks into a bank with a little glass bottle. He tells everyone it's nitroglycerin. He scores some money off the teller, walks out. On his way out, the bottle breaks, he slips on it and knocks himself out. The 'nitro' was Canola oil. I know more fucked-up bank robbers than ones who know what they're doing. I doubt if one in twenty could tell you where the dye pack is. Most bank robbers are fucking morons.

Elmore Leonard#8

CrimeLuckRiskSecurity

About this quote

What does it mean?
Many criminals are incompetent amateurs, suggesting that success often relies on luck rather than skill.
In plain terms
Most criminals are idiots who get away with luck.
What can you take from it?
Incompetence is common among those who break rules.

Where it applies

  • analyzing crime stories
  • discussing luck vs skill
  • security assessments

Putting it to work

  • study case failures
  • improve security measures
  • evaluate risk

Questions to consider

  • How much of success is luck?
  • Have you seen incompetence succeed?

Another view

Generalizing all criminals as morons overlooks organized crime.

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