According to police in Corapolis Pa, and elderly woman gave a bank robber a lift, unbeknownst to her at the time of course. Juanita Bland, 75, had been stopped at a post office in Coraopolis just before noon, two weeks ago, when suddenly the sliding door of her minivan became stuck. Her van is equipped with an electric door and ramp for her wheelchair.

“I couldn’t get out of the van, so I waited a few moments hoping somebody would walk by who might be able to help,” said Bland. “Then I saw this fellow walking my way, so I beckoned him over and asked if he could please help with the door.”

According to the police the man that Juanita beckoned over had just robbed a PNC Bank. The man got into the passenger seat asking for a ride after he slid the stuck sliding door closed.

“He didn’t seem threatening or anything, so I said ‘OK’ and drove off,” she said. He exited a few blocks later, got into a white sedan and drove off.

One of Bland’s friends called her later that day wondering if she’d been abducted because another one of the ladies acquaintances had been listening to the police scanner and had heard that the suspect had gotten into her van.

“When I think back now of what could have happened, I feel blessed that I’m OK,” Bland said.

She sure is lucky. It’s probably a good thing that she didn’t suspect anything otherwise things might have turned out very differently.