Car Chases Leave Money Blowing in Wind

(CANVAS STAFF REPORTS) - An alleged thief's attempt to rob a Canadian bank left him with nothing but a trip to jail, according to the Toronto Sun .

The Sun reported that Steven John Gallagher-Skinner, 42, robbed a Sherwood Park CIBC Monday morning in Edmonton as he claimed he had a weapon and took off with an undisclosed amount of cash.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said a tip led officers to New Serepta, about 50 kilometers southeast of Edmonton, where the suspect refused to stop for police. A spike belt didn't work when the suspect swung his car around the strip.

The chase reached 140 kilometers per hour (about 87 mph), according to the Sun. The suspect began tossing cash out the window before another spike caused the vehicle to coast to a stop.

RCMS Constable Wally Henry said he wasn't sure if all the cash was collected. A police dog had been called in to help sniff it out throughout the police chase route.

The Sun said Gallagher-Skinner was charged with armed robbery, possession of a dangerous weapon, criminal flight and dangerous driving.

Two government officials accused of bribery reached the same fate earlier this month in Russia, according to the UK Telegraph . The newspaper reported that one of the officials tossed bundles of Russian rubles out of the car's window.

The Telegraph, referring to coverage on Russian news program Vesti, said two Federal Fisheries Agency officials face bribery charges.

One of the suspects, Boris Simonov, threw 10 million rubles ($330,480) out of the window while he and Roman Postnikov fled the Federal Security Service. The car crashed along a highway in Moscow.

The Telegraph said the suspects are accused of taking bribes to help a businessman get an illegally back-dated contract.

Passersby returned thousands of rubles.