Hernando woman ‘jokingly’ tries to rob bank with toy gun before withdrawing cash, deputies say
Vanessa Ortega mugshot courtesy of the Hernando County Sheriff's Office.
SPRING HILL, Fla. - Deputies in Hernando County have arrested a woman they say tried to rob a bank in Spring Hill, but she says the whole thing was just a joke.
According to the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were called to the Wells Fargo bank located at 1337 Commercial Way in Spring Hill for reports of a robbery.
Deputies say a customer, later identified as Vanessa Ortega, entered the bank holding a bright blue object in her left hand around 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
Customer and bank employees told investigators that the bright blue object looked like a gun and Ortega pointed it at them and yelled, "This is a robbery, give me all your money!"
They told investigators that Ortega then pointed the object at a female customer and told her to "put all your money in my envelope."
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The customers and staff told deputies they were scared.
According to detectives, Ortega then went to a teller and said she was only joking. Investigators say she proceeded to take $500 out of her account and left the bank.
Bank employees said Ortega was a regular customer and deputies say they are familiar with her as well.
While deputies were at the bank, authorities received another call about a verbal disturbance nearby.
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According to investigators, Ortega was involved in the second incident and was taken to HCSO to be interviewed.
Detectives say she admitted to entering the bank with a ‘Nerf-style’ toy gun that she carries for her own protection. They added that she also told them that she yelled "This is a robbery, give me all your money." However, she said she was just joking about the robbery.
Ortega was arrested and charged with attempted robbery with a weapon.