Courtesy Flush

There is a lesson for aspiring bandits in David Lee Barnes's alleged holiday crime spree: Courtesy pays.

When Barnes robbed a TCF bank inside a Cub Foods in December, his pitch was formal enough. Sure, there was the textbook "If you value your life, hurry up!" but the heart of the pitch (with gun drawn) was, "I'd like to make a withdrawal." He walked out with more than $4,000.

The meaner he got, the less money he got away with. At another Cub TCF he used "Give me all your $100s!" He got about $1,500.

By early January, he'd switched to "Only $50s and $100s, bitch!" He got just one of each and fled on foot.

Barnes only made headlines after he stabbed two Wal-Mart guards in a botched shoplifting spree. In his getaway car were two bouquets of fresh flowers.