Y2K disruptions of power and telephone service will provide amateur and professional criminals the opportunity of a lifetime, according to a notorious convict who candidly admitted every bad guy will be eagerly waiting for the new year to begin.
“I’d hit banks, jewelry stores, electronics stores, anyplace with high-ticket items,” Bill Wasz told WorldNetDaily in a rare phone call from prison. He was asked what he would do on New Year’s Eve 2000 if he were a free man and still committing crimes. Wasz added he has found religion and changed his life and would not engage in crimes any longer.
He said the potential for Y2K disruptions would be a huge temptation for every criminal on the streets. He said all the alarms will be off, and the police will have trouble responding to the many disturbances. Wasz cautioned that professional criminals are hard at work right now making their plans for major robberies if the Y2K bug causes disruptions.
“You should hear them talk in here,” said Wasz of the Y2K conversations he has had with some of the nation’s most dangerous criminals. “If it gets as bad as they say it will be really crazy out there,” he added.
Wasz is an inmate in one of the highest security prisons in America. He was the subject of a series of WorldNetDaily articles dealing with his claim that he was hired to kill Nicole Brown Simpson. His life of violent and drug related crimes led to his eventual arrest and imprisonment in the Calipatria State Prison in California.
People in their homes would not be the target of professional criminals like Wasz, but they should be concerned about amateur crooks trying to make a quick hit while the lights are out.
“I’d stay as far from people’s homes as I could get,” he explained. “It’s too much of a gamble. If you hit houses at random you don’t know if you’ll find anything of value, and you are likely to find someone with a gun scared to death on the other side of the door.”
He did say that many inexperienced crooks might break into homes, but he was certain that professional criminals would go after the biggest prize they could find.
Wasz admits to many bank robberies and crimes when he was working on his own and as a gangster for hire. His life of crime began when he drove a front loader through the window of a super market in Manasas, Va., about 15 years ago. He took the entire safe containing thousands in cash, and got away to Las Vegas where his life of crime blossomed.
The Y2K computer bug is a major concern to Wasz and his fellow prisoners for another reason. No information has been provided to inmates regarding preparations at the prison to deal with Y2K issues. Rumors are circulating that they will be locked in their cells for days prior to the turn of the century. They also believe that if disruptions do occur, prison food will run out quickly.
The state of Michigan has listed problems with security in prisons as a major concern in their Year 2000 Toolkit issued to all state and local officials in that state. The 65-page document warns of possible prison escapes unless jail cells are locked manually. Computerized lock down facilities are to have all computer controls disabled prior to the new year.
Jack M. Drown, undersheriff of San Diego County, also expects additional crime at the start of the new year.
“The department is currently preparing for contingencies associated with New Year 2000. As you know, certain automated or computer-driven systems and services may be subject to interruption. If significant interruptions do occur, it is possible there may be adverse public reactions. Additionally, New Year 2000 will undoubtedly be a time of heightened general police activity,” Drown told his deputies in a recent internal memo made available to WorldNetDaily.
All vacations before and just after the new year have been canceled by Drown. Other government agencies at all levels have been reported to be taking similar action in anticipation of civil unrest and an increase in crime.
Wasz is presently in a special isolation section of the Calipatria State Prison in California serving a 30-year sentence for crimes unrelated to the Simpson case. He was placed in isolation recently because of a prison fight he was involved in. He has been denied access to his personal belongings, and he is not able to make phone calls or write letters with rare exceptions.
In a recent letter he expressed concern for his safety. He claims numerous attempts on his life have been made in the past, and that there are plans to transfer him to another facility where he will be in even greater danger.
Wasz also claims a price was placed on his head because he has the ability to expose a conspiracy to commit the murder of Nicole Brown Simpson.
The public affairs office of Calipatria State Prison could not be reached for comment.
