Disabled man arrested for allegedly robbing Greek bank with shotgun hidden on his crutch

THESSALONIKI, Greece – A disabled man has been charged with robbing a bank in Greece with a shotgun hidden on his crutch.

Police in the northern Greece said the man's first attempt on the outskirts of Thessaloniki failed when his ploy got him to a teller without suspicion but the bank's safe was on a time delay.

Four days later, the ruse worked at a nearby bank and he made off with 12,000 euros ($16,000).

In both cases, the weapon was strapped to the inside of the one crutch he was using.

Police said Wednesday the 56-year-old suspect, a local baker who was not identified, said he was heavily in debt during Greece's economic crisis and used the stolen money to pay his creditors.

He was charged with robbery and breaking firearms laws.