Another Use for the Multi-Purpose Burqa

Wed, Oct 17, 2007 at 9:12:25 pm PST

That amazingly versatile Islamic garment, the burqa, is not only handy for oppressing women—it’s also the perfect multi-culturally immune disguise for robbing banks: Burka Bandit Hits Hiddenite Bank.

HIDDENITE, N.C. — Police are investigating an unusual robbery in Hiddenite. Someone dressed in a burgundy burka walked into the People’s Bank at 3:45 p.m. Tuesday, showed the teller a handgun and demanded money.

The robber then took off down N.C. 90 in a burgundy sport utility vehicle.

Authorities are looking into whether this bank robbery can be connected to one in Morganton. An androgynously dressed person held up a bank there last week.

Officers aren’t sure whether they’re looking for a man or a woman in either case.