Editing Bonnot Gang (section)

== Crime spree ==
[[File:Recueil._Procès_de_la_bande_à_Bonnot_aux_assises_de_la_Seine_à_Paris,_du_3_au_27_février_1913)_(lot_de_photographies_de_presse)_(Agence_Meurisse)_03-05_(btv1b90773755).jpg|thumb|[[Courtroom photography and broadcasting|Courtroom photo]] from the Bonnot Gang mass trial at the [[Palais de Justice, Paris|Palais du Justice]], February 3-27, 1913.|341x341px]]
The first robbery by Bonnot's Gang was on 21 December 1911 at the AB Branch of [[Société Générale]] Bank, located at 148 rue Ordener in the [[18th arrondissement of Paris|18th Arrondissement]] of Paris. They shot a collection clerk in the neck and lung (yet he survived) and snatched his cash bags.<ref name="skedaddle">{{cite web |title="Skedaddle!" The Bonnot Gang targets Societe Generale |url=https://www.societegenerale.com/en/about-us/our-identity/150-years-of-history/team-spirit/the-bonnot-gang-targets-societe-generale |website=Societe Generale |date=10 January 2017 |access-date=11 September 2019|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20140820060056/https://www.societegenerale.com/en/about-us/our-identity/150-years-of-history/team-spirit/the-bonnot-gang-targets-societe-generale|archive-date=2014-08-20}}</ref>

On 25 March 1912, the gang stole a [[de Dion-Bouton]] automobile in [[the Forest of Sénart]] south of Paris by shooting the driver through the heart.<ref name=":0">Richard Parry, ''The Bonnot Gang: Story of the French Illegalists'' (Rebel Press, 1987), {{ISBN|978-0-946061-04-4}}.</ref> They drove into [[Chantilly, Oise|Chantilly]], north of Paris, where they robbed the local branch of Société Générale Bank, and fatally shot two bank cashiers and severely wounded a bookkeeper.<ref name="skedaddle" />

Sûreté Chief [[Xavier Guichard]] took the matter personally. Even politicians became concerned, increasing police funding by 800,000 francs. Banks began to prepare for forthcoming robberies and many cashiers armed themselves. The Société Générale promised a reward of 100,000 francs for information that would lead to arrests.<ref name="skedaddle"/>