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(The following article appeared in the Toledo Blade on Feb 1, 1928) Munn Bank in Portage Robbed PORTAGE Feb 1, 1928 The Munn Banking Company of Portage was Burglarized last night when the safe crackers cut a large hole in the safe and got away with close to $4,000 cash. A complete checking was not available yet today but it is believed that the figure will be at least that. The burglary was discovered when cashier I. I. Freyman opened the place up this morning. Immediately upon opening the door he noticed that the room was filled with smoke. After a short investigation he found the damaged safe and notified Sheriff Raymond F. Whitte and Chief of Police John Koontz. It is believed that the burglars knew the bank very well, for they were especially prepared for the job. The safe was located near the front window on a raised platform. They had constructed a special runway with steel strips on it and rolled the safe, a very heavy affair into the back room. The safe is 3" thick and shaped like a sphere. Some bonds were partially burned by the torch but none was damaged that it could not be identified and replaced easily. The money was all taken from the safe. It is believed the job was done between 12:30 am - 5:00 am. Machines were heard near the bank at that time. The oxygen tank and a roll of tape were left in the bank by the safe-crackers and may lend a clue to the officers. It is believed they gained admission to the building through the front door by the use of a key. The loss is covered by insurance. Detectives are on the job and Sheriff Whitte and Police Chief Koontz are working on the job in an effort to discover the crooks. (The following is a caption from a photo that appeared in the Toledo Blade on Feb 1, 1928) Wrecked Portage Bank Safe The accompanying picture shows the 3,780-pound safe of the Munn Banking Co., Portage, O., as it appeared with a gaping hole through it’s three-inch shell of manganese steel after a session with torch-wielding safecrackers early Wednesday. Around the safe, examining what Detective William Calver of the Toledo police force termed a remarkable job, are left to right, Detective Calver, Patrolman Pribe, Toledo; Sheriff Ray Whitte, Wood county; I. I. Freyman cashier of the bank; Bruce Pratt, Wood county chief deputy sheriff; and Greely Steen, bank bookkeeper, who discovered the robbery. Photo by Norman Hauger of the Blade camera staff. (The following article appeared in the Daily Sentinel-Tribune in February 1, 1988) Munn Bank in Portage was Robbed 60 years ago Jan 31 PORTAGE Feb 1, 1988 - It was 60 years ago Jan 31, that the Munn Bank in Portage was burglarized, with the safe crackers getting away with nearly $4,000. The bank robbers used a torch to burn through the 3,780-pound sphere-shaped safe, which had three-inch thick walls. They took all the money in the safe but left behind an oxygen tank and a roll of tape. The safe crackers were never apprehended by police. The theft was covered by insurance, according to an article in the Sentinel-Tribune on Feb 1,1928. The article stated that the burglary was discovered by when cashier I. I. Fryman opened the bank in the morning. It continues saying that, "It is believed that the burglars knew the bank very well, for they were especially prepared for the job. The safe was located near the front window on a raised platform. They had constructed a special runway with steel strips on it and rolled the safe, a very heavy affair into the back room." Dale Thiebaut, who was born in Portage in 1921, has collected information on the bank robbery and other events from Portage’s past. According to Thiebaut, the burglarized safe was able to be repaired. It is currently being used by Fred Judson, of Mermill Road, to store gun powder.
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