'Stockholm Syndrome' thief retires

A career criminal involved in the bank robbery that led to the creation of the term "Stockholm Syndrome" turned himself in, saying it was time to retire.

Jan-Erik Olsson, who says he is about to turn 65, came to Sweden from Thailand to make expiation, the news Web site The Local reported. He also ordered a new passport and arranged to collect a pension.

In the 1973 bank robbery, customers and employees held hostage by the robbers later spoke up for them. Olsson spent some time in prison for that robbery and then allegedly went on to commit a number of financial crimes.

He said that when he went to a police station on Sweden's west coast, officers encouraged him to remain on the lam. He later learned that all criminal charges had been dropped because of the length of time involved, although he may still face civil suits.

"When I came to the police on Tuesday, there was a cop who said, 'Take off Janne. You're wanted,'" Olsson told the newspaper Dagens Nyheter.

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