WEST PATERSON, N.J. - He did not take the money and run. This bank robber held the loot and waited while a bank employee called him a taxi. They could have also called him by name.









Despite the business suit, sunglasses and long brown wig, another employee at the Rutherford bank recognized the bandit as Ernest Di Falco, who had worked in a nearby pizzeria.


It was no surprise when Di Falco was arrested a half-hour later, since a bank employee gave a license plate number to police, who quickly tracked the getaway cab to Paterson.


The incident happened Monday, when Di Falco, 53, entered the Bank of New York, showed a teller the bogus gun and demanded money, authorities said.


A bank employee refused his request for a ride to his car, but called a cab.


"He waits patiently for the cab to arrive," FBI (news - web sites) Special Agent John Turkington told the Herald News of West Paterson. "People are coming and going."


After the cab left, police around the state got its description, and officers in Clifton soon spotted it on Route 21, and followed it into Paterson.


Meanwhile, Rutherford police had the dispatcher at Rutherford Taxi contact the driver, who was told, in Polish, to pull over. So the driver stayed put when a light changed to green, not far from Di Falco's home.


Di Falco started to walk away and was arrested by Sgt. Joe Dennis and Officer Bill Bais of Clifton.


Authorities recovered the cash, a fake gun, as well as an old .22-caliber revolver with seven bullets.


Di Falco was charged with armed bank robbery, which carries up to 20 years in federal prison