On April 12, 1957, the world’s first hidden camera recording of a bank robbery happened right here in Cleveland. The Cleveland Division of Police devised, developed and installed the system that made this policing first possible.
Here’s the story:
The St. Clair Savings and Loan, located at 6235 St. Clair Avenue, had recently been robbed, twice. Because of this, Cleveland Policeman Thomas Story, Superintendent of Communications, chose the St. Clair Savings and Loan to test his new idea, a hidden security camera.
This new standard for police evidence gathering came about after many months of patient experiment by members of the Cleveland Police communication staff and photography laboratory. Superintendent of the Bureau of Communications Thomas E. Story, Radio Engineer Robert Hover, Electronic Specialist Patrolman Edmond Kisiel #1095, Photo Technician Sergeant Ladis Lisy, Photo Technician Detective John Kastner #690, and a New York photo and television specialist worked together to successfully adapt an army surplus gun camera into new law enforcement technology.
As early as May 20, 1955, the special, sound-proofed, electronically controlled, concealable camera was deemed good enough to demonstrate to law enforcement officers at Western Reserve University’s course on “Science in Crime Enforcement,” taught by Dr. Oliver Schroeder. The prototype was built by the Photoguard Corporation using plans and specifications from the Cleveland Division of Police.
Components of the hidden camera
On April 11, 1957, members of the Division of Police and the Photoguard Corporation installed the prototype crime camera in the frequently robbed St. Clair Savings and Loan. The group planned on returning the next day to test the equipment and properly focus the camera. But the robbers got there first.
On Friday, April 12, 1957 a man and a woman, both carrying pistols, robbed the St. Clair Savings and Loan of $2,376. Both the manager and a clerk succeeded in setting off the special bank alarm and the camera whirled into action along with the standard bank-alarm system which brought the police radio alert. As the newly installed police camera was rolling, Steven Ray Thomas, wearing a handkerchief around his face, held the customers and employees at gunpoint while Wanda DiCenzi scooped the money into a bag. They escaped in a stolen car driven by Rose O’Donnell. After dividing the money, the three parted. The police arrived on the scene within two minutes but missed the robbers by seconds. On the scene, witnesses gave the officers verbal descriptions.
Still shots from the hidden camera film of the St. Clair Savings and Loan robbery
The system set up by the Cleveland Police, using motion picture film and a Photoguard camera, created a “silent witness” that documented the entire course of a bank holdup in progress for the first time in history. The film of the “silent witness” was rushed to the processor and was ready for detectives by rollcall time. Even though the camera lens adjustment had not yet been checked for focus or exposure and the film was not of the best quality, the detectives learned more in one minute and fifteen seconds of film than had ever been anticipated. They immediately began to decipher visual clues that helped confirm the sequence of events and identify the suspects.
In the opinion of Dr. Oliver Schroeder, “excellent composite descriptions of the robbers were obtained, and a male individual previously identified by one of the witnesses as a suspect was proved thereby not to be the robber. Other interesting facts concerning identification revealed by the movie were: the girl by her walk and carriage indicated she might be a professional dancer (actually she was a theater usherette), she was left-handed, she opened the shopping bag in professional manner indicating she had worked in a supermarket or restaurant where food was taken out (the latter proved correct), she also appeared to be of Italian extraction (also correct), she was a “bobby soxer” in dress. The man was extremely nervous and jumpy indicating a possible dope addict (actually he was an epileptic).”
Detectives Joseph David #1112 and William Steele #1665, who had attended the film’s “premier” agreed that just that morning they had seen the girl with the particular “tip-toe” walk in a restaurant near the savings institution. Other detectives remembered her as a friend of a known police character and the “leading lady” and “leading man” were given credit for their roles. Night shift detectives Thomas Coughlin #1298 and Lester Caldwell #208 followed up on this information and were able to identify the suspect.
The police quickly had the pictures of the robbery printed in newspapers. The headlines on Saturday, April 13, 1957, screamed, “Have you Seen These Robbers? – Hidden Camera Identifies 2,” and “Movie Camera Films Holdup of Loan Firm – Picture here 1st in History.” By Friday evening, the news of the robbery and use of the new police camera had spread across the country. Robber Wanda DiCenzi saw the pictures in the paper and heard about them on the radio. Her accomplice Steven Ray Thomas fled to Indianapolis after the robbery but returned on Saturday after hearing about the police pictures. DiCenzi and Thomas gave themselves up on Saturday. Getaway driver Rose O’Donnell, who did not hear about the hidden camera film, was apprehended after a neighbor phoned police concerning her whereabouts. All of the money was recovered except for $800 which was spent on clothes and motel bills. The suspects were indicted by the Cuyahoga County Grand Jury and all three pled guilty.
Police technology and good detective work had combined to solve the case. Dr. Schroeder Commented that “With this case, The Cleveland Police Department opened the door to a new era in law enforcement.” Police from across the country came to Cleveland to study the robbery and learn more about the hidden camera. The use of the hidden camera proved to be a major breakthrough in apprehending criminals and deterring robberies.
The Cleveland bank robbery movie had a national and international impact. It was highlighted on the television program “You Asked For It” on November 25th, 1957. And the story made the front page of the Evening News in London, England on August 11th, 1958. Later in the year, Professor Schroeder discussed this innovative event at the Fifth International Congress on Comparative Law at Brussels, Belgium. He included “crime prevention” as one of his direct values of the new camera.
The Cleveland bank robbery movie had a national and international impact. It was highlighted on the television program “You Asked For It” on November 25th, 1957. And the story made the front page of the Evening News in London, England on August 11th, 1958. Later in the year, Professor Schroeder discussed this innovative event at the Fifth International Congress on Comparative Law at Brussels, Belgium. He included “crime prevention” as one of his direct values of the new camera.
The “silent witness,” whether deterrent or evidence-gatherer, made and continues to make an impact on enforcing public safety and we are proud to say it was “Another First” for the Cleveland Police Department.
Adapted from an article written in 1985 by former Museum Director Florence E. Schwein