Robber's buying binge was his downfall, police say
<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial"> </font><font face="Imperial">A man accused of robbing Security Bank last week went on a buying binge of crack cocaine, a hotel stay, a used car, gold jewelry and a leather jacket, according to an arrest affidavit.</font>
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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">Robert C. McAllister allegedly pulled out a plastic grocery bag of $1 bills to make purchases at White Oaks Mall.</font>
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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">McAllister, 27, is charged with displaying a handgun to take $5,315 from Security Bank, 300 South Grand Ave. W., Thursday afternoon.</font>
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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">The alleged getaway driver, Marisol Benson, 39, was arrested less than an hour after the holdup when a Springfield police officer saw her in a car matching the getaway vehicle.</font>
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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">An informant contacted investigators after seeing a photo of McAllister on news reports Friday night. McAllister was arrested Saturday.</font>
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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">Police said they learned from the informant that McAllister had bought $1,000 worth of crack cocaine in several purchases Thursday evening and that he gave the informant $110 to rent a hotel room for him.</font>
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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">On Friday, the two went to a car dealership, where McAllister reportedly paid $1,047 for a blue 1993 Chevrolet Cavalier. He then went to White Oaks, paying $1,500 for gold jewelry at a kiosk. He also paid cash for a leather jacket and a pair of boots, using $1 bills, wrapped in rubber bands.</font>
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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">Benson allegedly told investigators that she and McAllister had first driven Thursday to United Community Bank in Auburn. He came out empty-handed. </font>
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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">"He told Benson that he 'got cold feet,'" according to the affidavit. </font>