Elderly Ohio woman 'stages armed BANK robbery' after being duped out life savings by online scammers

An elderly Ohio woman who was scammed of her life savings allegedly robbed a bank with a handgun.

Ann Mayers, 74, allegedly demanded cash and threatened the bank teller with her weapon at an AurGroup Credit Union in Fairfield Township on April 19, per the town's police department.

She can be seen walking inside the bank with a blue bag and a face mask on in surveillance footage released by Fairfield Township police.

Mayers then allegedly hopped in a 2014 silver Hyundai Elantra without a license plate and sped away, according to a statement shared by authorities. 

Police said the elderly woman admitted to the robbery when detectives found a handgun in her car.

Anna Mayers, 74, allegedly demanded cash and threatened the bank teller with her weapon at an AurGroup Credit Union in Fairfield Township on April 19, according to the town's police department.

Mayers turned to bank robbery when she lost her life savings to an online scammer

Mayers can be seen walking inside the bank with a blue bag and a face mask on in surveillance footage

The woman's family told officials that Mayers had recently fallen victim to an online scam in which she sent money to an 'unidentified individual,' Sgt. Brandon McCroskey told USA TODAY.

'In that aspect, some may see her as a "victim." Unfortunately, Ann chose to victimize several other people in the bank by robbing it with a firearm as a remedy for her situation,' McCroskey said in an email.

The robbery was premeditated, as evidenced by Mayer's decision to remove her 'license plate from her car' and trying to peel off a bumper sticker to go undetected, he said.

'She also reportedly spoke to family members about robbing banks in the days leading up to the robbery, but the family did not take her comments seriously,' McCroskey said.

Mayers does not have an existing criminal record up until this point.

'Ann chose to victimize several other people in the bank by robbing it with a firearm as a remedy for her situation,' Sgt. Brandon McCroskey said in an email to USA TODAY

The robbery was premeditated, as evidenced by Mayer's decision to remove her 'license plate from her car' and trying to peel off a bumper sticker to go undetected, he said

The amount of money she allegedly stole from the bank is unclear

Mayers, pictured here within the bank, does not have an existing criminal record up until this point

She was charged with aggravated robbery with a firearm and tampering with evidence

She was charged with aggravated robbery with a firearm and tampering with evidence.

The amount of money she allegedly stole from the bank is unclear. 

The elderly robber is being held at Butler County Jail.

It is unclear if she has entered a plea at this time.