54: In the Bag pt.3: Send Less Help

Maia Warner-Langenbahn
May 22, 2024
3 min read

Updated: May 1

Three true crime episodes in a set, well that's a first. The set, a Swedish Bank. The Players, Jan-Erik Olofsson, Sven, Sven, Maybe another Sven?, Kristen Enmark, Brigitta Lundblad, Elisabeth Oldgren, and Clark Olsson. Key events, The streets of Stockholm are swarmed as everyone wants to get in on the most exciting robbery of the summer. Bullets are fired, loves are forged, and Kaj Hansson makes a surprise call in NOT about the bees. The 1973 Stockholm bank siege that gave the world “Stockholm syndrome.” Before the tear gas and duct-tape drama, though, we detour through Grant’s “horse on the track” school day, an estate-sale circus featuring Sexy Chewbacca, Maia’s PT-induced identity crisis, depression-nap doctrine, and the most chaotic student–teacher standoff since Ferris Bueller. Once the smoke clears (literally), we hole up with career crooks Jan-Erik Olsson and Clark Olofsson, a quartet of chill hostages, seven poorly placed drill holes, and a blue Mustang that never even starts. It’s a master class in charismatic crime, questionable police tactics, and why Sweden might just have the world’s most polite felons.

Key takeaways to listen for

[00:00:00] Catch-Up
[00:00:03] Horse-Prank Hijinks: A senior literally rides a horse onto Grant’s Denver track field
[00:03:15] Estate-Sale Circus: Blue-Bear sculptor’s treasures, Sexy Chewbacca cosplay, and cash-only chaos
[00:07:28] Dating Metaphor: Maia’s physical-therapy session turns into “late-20s relationship” real talk
[00:26:43] Send Less Help: Jan-Erik Olsson storms the bank, fake accent and all
[00:41:00] Wrong Guy, Right Mess: Police recruit the wrong crook’s teenage brother to negotiate twice
[01:06:44] Hostages Call the PM: Captives chat with Sweden’s Prime Minister and refuse to be rescued
[01:19:10] Seven Holes & Sandwiches: Drill-through ceiling, noose rotation schedule, and a dangling picnic basket
[01:36:28] Tear-Gas Curtain Call: Gas floods the vault; hugs, cheek-kisses, and zero fatalities at the finale
[01:55:19] Where Are They Now: Clark’s globe-trotting crime résumé ends with a Thai “retirement”

Images Referenced:

*Hostages in the Vault - Courtesy of AP/New Yorker*

*The Four Hostages: Birgitta Lunblad (Top Left), Kristin Enmark (Top Right), Elisabeth Olgren (Bottom Left), Sven Safstrom (Bottom Right) - courtesy of the Bettman Archive*

*Kristin Enmark after the conclusion of the hostage situation (thought to be looking towards Clark) - courtesy of Classic Picture Library/Alamy Stock Photo*

Quotes:

"The survival instinct is at the heart of Stockholm Syndrome. Victims live in enforced dependence and interpret rare and small acts of kindness in the midst of horrible conditions as good treatment." - Maia Warner
"Men just hate to see women having a good time and succeeding in their goals." - Grant Thomas

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