NEW YORK BOSTON |#Popular: Irish Celebrity Gossip Irish in US Politics Irish Festivals Irish Roots Irish Entertainment Offbeat Irish

Home Page > News > Cash stolen from Irish couple’s Chase safety deposit box

Cash stolen from Irish couple’s Chase safety deposit box

$10,000 taken from safe box

MOLLY MULDOON,

Irish Voice Reporter

Published Friday, June 10, 2011, 7:56 AM

Updated Friday, June 10, 2011, 10:15 AM

Larger Text

E-mail

15 Comments

An Irish couple had $10,000 in cash stolen from their Chase Bank safety deposit box in the Bronx,

An Irish couple had $10,000 in cash stolen from their Chase Bank safety deposit box in the Bronx, money they had been saving to purchase their first home.

Originally from Offaly, Noel Muldoon was stunned when he discovered his safety deposit box was empty when he visited his local Chase branch on 5656 Riverdale Avenue in the Bronx on February 10.

“There was nothing left, only an empty envelope,” Muldoon told the Irish Voice.

Muldoon and his wife Patricia, wanted somewhere secure to store cash gifts they received from their 2008 wedding and decided to put the money in their local Chase branch, where Patricia had been a customer for years.

After visiting their deposit box on a few occasions, the Riverdale residents were satisfied their money was safe.

“We were there a couple of times, we had our passports there and a few other bits and pieces but we never touched any cash as we were saving it for when we bought a house,” the construction worker said.

Noel, who also works as a bartender at the weekends, and Patricia, a teacher, welcomed their first child, a baby girl, on January 28.

It was Patricia, originally from Mayo, who made the initial discovery when she visited her local Chase branch to deposit some money the couple had received as gifts for their newborn.

“Trish went down to deposit some cash but there was nothing left,” Muldoon recalls.

He immediately alerted the manager who assured him a full investigation would be conducted.

“They were pretty evasive, like it was a common thing,” Muldoon recalls. “If somebody robbed the bank of $10,000 the cops would be swarming the place.
--------------------

Crazed airport rampage ends when stolen jeep 'breaks down'

Socialite robbed of Jewels

--------------------
“They said the investigator would look after the situation.”

The couple went straight to the local 50th Precinct police station that night and filed a police report.

Chase advised the couple to go through the proper channels and deal with a Chase investigator, who could offer few answers regarding their money.

“We made many phone calls and just basically got the run around with no one calling us back,” said Muldoon.

Finally on Friday March 4 last, Patricia met with the Chase investigator in the Riverdale branch. Bringing her brother along as a witness, the high school teacher was pessimistic when the investigator assured her he would make contact the following Wednesday with a case update.

But the Muldoons have not heard a single word from the Chase investigator since.

Desperate to get their money back, the couple decided to take matter into their own hands and initiated civil court proceedings in April.

“There was nothing else we could do, we were left with no choice” reflected Muldoon.

When the Irish Voice contacted Frances Lau, the branch manager of the Riverdale Chase branch where the incident occurred, she declined to comment and redirected the query to the press division.

Chase spokesman, Michael Fusco later confirmed that an investigation into the incident was ongoing.

No spokesperson from the 50th Precinct police department was available for comment before the Irish Voice went to press.

For now the couple, who have lived in the U.S. for almost ten years, are left without any answers as to what happened to their money.

“We don’t really know what is going on,” Muldoon said.

“We just want our money back. We are not letting it go.”

Nster.com

E-mail

15 Comments

See all comments

coolfez | Jul 25, 2011, 04:01 PM EDT

You know what most likely happened? Someone at the bank "borrowed" the money. I bet whoever is in charge of the boxes ( a manager ) decided that he/she will borrow the money as a short-term loan and return it before they even notice it was missing. Except somehow he/she wasn't able to do so and now it's gone too far for them to simply have the money appear magically right? Also, it isn't unheard of for banks to take the stuff in the safety deposit boxes if someone hasn't been accessing it for years. You would be surprised how many boxes go unclaimed because people move, forgot, or died and never told anyone about the boxes. I bet the bank was going to remove the a box with similar numbers on it but picked their's by accident.

Report abuse

cobhconnie | Jun 18, 2011, 11:23 PM EDT

Anyone thinking one member of this couple stole it from the other isn't playin with a full deck.... on reporting this to the bank, the bank's first action would have been to check the activity on the box(sign in every time, and it's logged) in an effort to move blame to the couple. Obviously the activity that showed up encouraged this couple to pursue the matter further. Regarding Crough Patrick's comment you obviously haven't read the full story but still insist on arrogantly assuming that these people are scammers. http://www.riverdalepress.com/stories/No-safety-for-deposit-box-users-at-Chase,48154 More than likely it was someone in the bank, but Chase's historically poor performance in dealing with customer complaints will no doubt prove a huge headache for this couple. I have worked as a commodity trader for over 20 years and when Lehman Brothers declared bankruptcy in 2008 I also moved some of my savings into a deposit box. It's such a shame though that commercial banks don't take the security issues regarding safety deposit boxes seriously and honest hard working people have to suffer the consequences. I hope the other person whose box was robbed comes forward publicly as it would assist both claims. I wish them every success in redeeming their money. Don't lose hope!

Report abuse

Scrivner | Jun 12, 2011, 11:00 PM EDT

First off, Chuck97, I believe that you are mistaken, it is not illegal to keep cash in a bank box. Immigrants often have memories of banks failing and accounts going bad in other countries (can anyone say "Iceland?). People often hear about a $10,000 reporting requirement, but that is for U.S. Citizens and permanent residents to report accounts of $10,000 or more in a non-U.S. financial account (IF YOU HAD SUCH ACCOUNT IN 2010 FILE YOUR FBAR WITH THE IRS IN DETROIT ASAP!). Chase does not have a good reputation in treating it's customers (try the search term "Chase Sucks"--you will be overwhlemed), so I would not be so fast to assume this couple are running a scam, just showing poor judgemnet.

Report abuse

mamaginnty | Jun 12, 2011, 08:06 PM EDT

Not everyone puts money in a bank, especially now. I am in Ireland and wont use a bank now, they have screwed us enough. They seem a hard working couple trying to get on. The camera will tell the tale.

Report abuse

maryemoore | Jun 12, 2011, 01:06 AM EDT

Why did they not put it in a savings account where they could have gotten a little bit of interest and been safe under FDIC rules? Dumb.

Report abuse

Chiefjustice | Jun 11, 2011, 03:12 PM EDT

I would questian weather or not the Money was ever in the box.. And if so,,, For how long Before it went thuough a NYRA window

Report abuse

chuck97 | Jun 11, 2011, 01:31 PM EDT

First of all it is illegal to have cash in a safe deposit box. Second why hide the money? Hmmm. In my 35 years in banking this is the first time I have heard of such a thing(except the movies).The money is not covered under bank insurance but there is insurance the customer can purchase themselves,which I doubt they have. Lots of luck. SLANTE

Report abuse

jnewnam | Jun 11, 2011, 06:10 AM EDT

Never, never, never leave your key in the lock with the door open after you take your box out. Always, always, always take your key with you. I fought this practice with Commerce Bank, now TD Bank in Pennsylvania for years. Always made them give me the key while I had my box. Any bank employee can take your key while you are in that private safe deposit box room and make a wax copy. After working in retail, you can't imagine how widespread theft and dishonesty is among employees. I still am in disbelief that the old rules for safe deposit boxes have become so lax at banks.

Report abuse

mollycolleen | Jun 10, 2011, 06:44 PM EDT

Are there cameras in the safety deposit area? I'm with those who wonder why the cash wasn't in an account earning even low interest...sounds like someone was betting on the ponies and lost.

Report abuse

Ms.Gail | Jun 10, 2011, 12:57 PM EDT

I'm with those who wonder why the cash wasn't deposited in an account.

Report abuse

Deidra47 | Jun 10, 2011, 10:38 AM EDT

What proof do they have that money was in that box and this is not a way for these folks to come up with money they needed and didn't have? Why wasn't the money not put into a savings acct. where there is an accounting of the money as well as protection with "insurance" as well as a little interest to be earned? How does any one know if either of the couple has been dipping into it and afraid to say any thing.

Report abuse

CroughPatrick | Jun 10, 2011, 10:34 AM EDT

Im sure the bank manager laughed in their faces just as I would. Either the wife and husband are making up this story or one of them stole it. why not say there was $50,000 dollars cash in there? let me guess, no other box has been stolen only their one, the one with cash.

Report abuse

nicgearailt | Jun 10, 2011, 10:17 AM EDT

why was the cash not deposited into a bank account? can someone give me an explanation why it was a good move not to do so????. I am puzzled..

Report abuse

colkelley | Jun 10, 2011, 10:13 AM EDT

One of the benefits of living in the Big Apple.

Report abuse

ellenfromcork | Jun 10, 2011, 09:53 AM EDT

Something very fishy here on the part of the bank. I hope everyone else at that bank that has a safe deposit box is checking it out.

Report abuse