Conceptualizations of crime often differ from legal definitions to those of a sociological perspective, while the public perception of crime is largely influenced by various sources within the media. Legal definitions of crime are indispensable not only for the criminal justice system but also for scholars to conduct research and test hypotheses. Sutherland and Cressy state that legal definitions of crime are marked by four ideals: politically, specificity, uniformity, and criminal sanction (1978:19). Furthermore, the modern legal definition of crime refers to behavior in violation of criminal law and punishable by the criminal justice system (Henry & Lanier 2001:6). Evidently, crime is a complex concept, where people's perception of crime is often influenced or shaped by a broader context. This research paper will take a close look at the criminal case of Brian Wells, the “Collar Bomber” who robbed a bank in the state of Pennsylvania in August 2003. Robbery, like crime, has several definitions, both legal and sociological. According to the American Penal Codes, robbery means: "Whoever, by force and violence, or by intimidation, takes or attempts to take from the person or presence of another... (US code...) American criminal law operates through state legislation and consequently varies across state lines (Desroches, 1995:8). However, this case study focuses on bank robberies, which operate across a divided jurisdiction as defined at both the federal and state levels (Desroches, 1995:8).On August 8, 2003, several men approached Wells and tied a time bomb to his neck. This criminal case is known as one of the most ingenious bank robbery plans in history and... in between a la carte... a ruined book. Despite the great impact this case had on all Americans, there were no legal or socio-political consequences. The collar bomb case attracted mass media attention for several years, attracting headlines important from the city of Erie to the Herald Sun in Australia. Through a complex and long-lasting investigation, the FBI managed to solve one of the most intriguing criminal cases in American history. The public or Erie, however, are still uncertain about the role Wells played in the case; he was an innocent victim or a willing participant. Unfortunately there is no way to solve this mystery. Although there were no broader socio-political or legislative implications, this case shocked the city of Erie for quite some time, with many people living in fear that they could be the next victims of such a complex crime..