Taxi Driver Says He ‘Had No Idea’ Bank Robber Hailed Him for Getaway: ‘If I Knew, I’d Be Petrified'

Mar. 15, 2025

Taxi cab, stock image.Photo:David L. Ryan/The Boston Globe via Getty

David L. Ryan/The Boston Globe via Getty

A cab driver claims he “had no idea” he had become the getaway driver for a robbery at a bank in Massachusetts, according to reports.Dennis Ferrante was working his normal shift when a man entered his car at a grocery store and asked him to go to East Cambridge Savings Bank for a quick stop in Somerville, northwest of Boston, on Jan. 22,WHDH 7News,Fox 8 LiveandLocal 12reported.The Somerville Police Department stated that Ferrante followed the man’s commands and drove him to the bank on Highland Avenue before waiting for him to exit, per the outlets.John Politis, who was waiting in line at the bank, recalled the suspect entering the building and “demand[ing] money from the teller,” according to reports.“He just asked, ‘Give me the money. Give me the money.’ That’s it,” said Politis, per Fox 8 Live.Bank, stock image.The alleged robber then left the bank and got back into Ferrante’s cab as police caught up with him and surrounded the car.“I had no idea,” Ferrante said of the suspect’s alleged robbery, per WHDH. “I never saw him before. If I knew, I would’ve been petrified.”Police recovered evidence from the cab related to the incident, including a backpack filled with stolen money from the bank, according to WHDH and Fox 8 Live.Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up forPEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletterfor breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.Police car in Boston, stock image.GettyThe suspect, who has not yet been identified, is set to be arraigned on Thursday, Jan. 30, WHDH reported.“All he kept saying is, ‘my wife is going to kill me,' ” Ferrante said of the man, per the outlet. He replied to him, “I can understand that…“The investigation is reportedly ongoing.PEOPLE has reached out to the Somerville Police Department for comment.

A cab driver claims he “had no idea” he had become the getaway driver for a robbery at a bank in Massachusetts, according to reports.

Dennis Ferrante was working his normal shift when a man entered his car at a grocery store and asked him to go to East Cambridge Savings Bank for a quick stop in Somerville, northwest of Boston, on Jan. 22,WHDH 7News,Fox 8 LiveandLocal 12reported.

The Somerville Police Department stated that Ferrante followed the man’s commands and drove him to the bank on Highland Avenue before waiting for him to exit, per the outlets.

John Politis, who was waiting in line at the bank, recalled the suspect entering the building and “demand[ing] money from the teller,” according to reports.

“He just asked, ‘Give me the money. Give me the money.’ That’s it,” said Politis, per Fox 8 Live.

Bank, stock image.

The alleged robber then left the bank and got back into Ferrante’s cab as police caught up with him and surrounded the car.

“I had no idea,” Ferrante said of the suspect’s alleged robbery, per WHDH. “I never saw him before. If I knew, I would’ve been petrified.”

Police recovered evidence from the cab related to the incident, including a backpack filled with stolen money from the bank, according to WHDH and Fox 8 Live.

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up forPEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletterfor breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

Police car in Boston, stock image.Getty

Getty

The suspect, who has not yet been identified, is set to be arraigned on Thursday, Jan. 30, WHDH reported.

“All he kept saying is, ‘my wife is going to kill me,' ” Ferrante said of the man, per the outlet. He replied to him, “I can understand that…”

The investigation is reportedly ongoing.

PEOPLE has reached out to the Somerville Police Department for comment.

source: people.com