Craig’s Collision Center Staff Helps Nab Fort Worth Bank Robbers

According to the Beach Street Craig’s Collision Center in Fort Worth, Monday started out like most Mondays—it was busy. Around 10 a.m., two men brought their 1997 GMC pickup in to repair damage to the right side of the vehicle.

Craig’s estimator Doug Germany wrote up the repair order and explained to them, they had a high deductible and they would have to pay $996 for the deductible and the insurance company would pick up the remainder of the repair cost. The men arranged for a loaner car and in a short time they were on their way.

The two men were referred to Craig’s Collision Center by a longtime Craig’s customer.

Their way seemed to be the Frost Bank further north on Beach Street. They allegedly robbed the bank. Both men were seen fleeing the scene in their rental car. Fort Worth Police and FBI traced the license plate to the Hertz location at the Beach Street Craig’s Collision Center. Gary Carley, facility manager was contacted and information on the alleged bank robbers was compiled.

While all of this was happening, the robbers actually called Craig’s, wanting to add additional liability insurance coverage to their rent car. They were told to stop back by the store so the car could be inspected and to fill out some additional paperwork. All of the police agencies were waiting for both men to arrive.

Up front everything looked like “business-as-usual.” On arrival, Laffoon and Isaacs entered and sat down at the car rental desk to “upgrade” their coverage. While waiting for the rental car representative to complete the paperwork, Laffoon turned to Doug Germany, Craig’s estimator, and told him to “go ahead and fix the rear bumper too,” while his truck was in for repairs. I

n the back hallway, the police and FBI agents were waiting, guns drawn, for the right moment. As the two men walked through the outside door, members of the Fort Worth SWAT team, the FBI agents and Fort Worth police officers confronted Laffoon and Isaacs and within seconds had both in custody. A handgun was recovered from the rental car.

According to Fort Worth robbery Sergeant Kevin Morton, the two men are also suspects in the robbery of a Wells Fargo bank on July 8, and Bank One robberies July 15 and July 27. Both men are reportedly in federal custody.