Taxi Driver Unknowingly Aids Bank Robber

What started as a routine day behind the wheel for Boston cab driver Dennis Ferrante quickly turned into something out of a crime thriller. On Jan. 22, 2025, Ferrante picked up a passenger in Porter Square, completely unaware that his patron was about to commit a bank robbery.

The man asked Ferrante to make a quick stop at East Cambridge Savings Bank in Somerville, Massachusetts. Ferrante, thinking nothing of it, pulled up to the bank and waited while his passenger went inside.

A Simple Demand for Cash

Inside the bank, customer John Politis witnessed the robbery unfold. According to Fox 8 Live, Politis said the suspect walked up to the teller and simply demanded, “Give me the money. Give me the money.” There were no elaborate threats - just a direct demand for cash.

Within moments, the man exited the bank and reentered Ferrante’s cab, and the two drove away. Ferrante had no idea his passenger allegedly had just committed a crime.

Swarmed by Police

But it wasn’t long before law enforcement caught up, surrounding the vehicle and bringing the would-be getaway to an abrupt end.

“I never saw him before,” Ferrante told WHDH. “If I knew, I would’ve been petrified.”

Police found evidence inside the taxi, including a backpack stuffed with stolen cash. The suspect, whose identity has not yet been released, was arrested at the scene and was set to be arraigned on Jan. 30, 2025.

A Wild Ride

Ferrante, still shaken from the incident, reflected on the surreal moment. “I was scared. I wanted another cigarette,” he told WHDH.

Adding to the bizarre nature of the ordeal, the suspect reportedly kept repeating, “My wife is going to kill me,” according to Ferrante’s statement to WHDH. Ferrante could only respond, “I can understand that…”

While no one was injured during the robbery, Ferrante now has an unforgettable story and an unusual claim to fame as a blindsided getaway driver.

References: Taxi Driver Says He ‘Had No Idea’ Bank Robber Hailed Him for Getaway: ‘If I Knew, I’d Be Petrified’ | Taxi driver unknowingly becomes getaway vehicle for bank robber | Cab driver unknowingly acts as getaway driver for bank robber in Somerville