Young Robbers Struck A Pose

OCTOBER 21--As if sticking up a Vail, Colorado bank and fleeing via ski lift wasn't dopey enough, it turns out that a pair of young robbers made the mistake of photographing themselves with the pilfered loot.

As you can see in these marvelous pictures (which were released today by federal prosecutors in Denver), would-be bandits Anthony Prince, 20, and Luke Carroll, 19, sure looked pleased with themselves following the March robbery of WestStar Bank.

The men, both Australian residents who came to Vail to work during the ski season, pleaded guilty in June to the $130,000 heist, which they pulled off with the aid of unloaded BB guns. During today's hearing, Carroll (seen with a brick of bills in his right hand) was sentenced to five years in prison, while Prince (who posed holding two fans of twenties) was hit with a four-and-a-half-year term. Other digital photos recovered by investigators showed some of the stolen money stashed in a snowboard case.

The robbery has received extensive coverage in the Australian press, where the pair has been dubbed "Dumb and Dumber" in light of the dopey plot. Along with their distinctive Down Under accents, when they robbed the bank, the men were wearing work badges from the ski shop where they were employed. And, minutes after the stickup, they even used their Vail ski passes to board a getaway chairlift just blocks from the WestStar branch. (2 pages)