A man in Cromwell, New Zealand, who robbed a bank there back on April 3 was a little too anal for his own good. He was found with the cash hidden up his anus, Judge Alistair Garland heard in the Alexandra District Court heard May 8.

The unemployed man, identified as 36-year-old Michael Geoffrey Linn, confessed that day to robbing the bank of around NZ$2,000 (US$1,533.45).

According to police prosecutor Sergeant Tom Scoullar, Linn had pressed the buzzer to gain entry to the bank and pulled a green hand-knitted balaclava over his face.

After a staff member had filled a bag with what money she had, Linn had apologized, saying, “I’m sorry miss, I didn’t mean to frighten you but I’m very, very desperate.” Linn drove to the lakefront, took off his clothes and set them on fire using gasoline and paper from his car, Scoullar said.

Members of the public noticed the fire and called the fire department. Nearby construction workers were the first to arrive on scene and, using shovels, saved the clothing and papers, some of which had Linn’s name and address on them.

When he was taken to the Queenstown police station, he said that he had given the money to an associate.

Police noticed some rustling sounds coming from Linn’s anal area and on closer inspection a roll of cash was found protruding from Linn’s butthole, the full amount of cash taken in the robbery.

Unfortunately, the money will have to be destroyed. (After all, who would want money that’s been hidden up someone’s butt?)

Linn is scheduled to be sentenced June 5.