“Why did the bank robber take a bath?”/“So he could make a clean getaway.”

A robbery riddle is:
 
Q: Why did the bank robber take a bath?
A: So he could make a clean getaway.
   
“A Boston robber who shaved and dressed up to loot a residence must have wanted to make a clean getaway” was printed in 1927 newspapers. “Q. Why did the bandit take a bath? A. He wanted to make a clean getaway” was printed in 1972 newspapers.
 
         
8 June 1927, Edwardsville (IL) Intelligencer, “Barbs,” pg. 4, col. 5:
A Boston robber who shaved and dressed up to loot a residence must have wanted to make a clean getaway.
     
16 December 1972, Cumberland (MD) News, “Mini Jokes,” The Mini Page, pg. 3, col. 1:
Q. Why did the bandit take a bath?
A. He wanted to make a clean getaway.
(Carol Stewart, Cumberland)
 
14 July 1973, Indiana (PA) Gazette, “Mini Jokes,” The Mini Page, pg. 3, col. 1:
Q. Why did the robber take a bath?
A. He wanted to make a clean getaway.
Sheri Hartzell—Clymer
 
Google Books
Do Bananas Chew Gum?
By Jamie Gilson
New York, NY: Pocket Books
1981
Pg. 130:
“You mean jokes? Like ‘Why did the robber take a shower at the bank?’”
 
“Because he wanted to make a clean getaway,” I flipped back.
 
Google Books
Don’t Walk Home Alone
By Beverly Hastings
New York, NY: Jove
1985
Pg. 13:
“Oh, I know! Why did the robber take a bath?”
 
Kate pondered and then shrugged helplessly. “I give up. Why did he?”
 
“Because he wanted to make a clean getaway.”
 
Google Books
More One Liners, Jokes and Gags
Compiled by Grant Tucker
London, UK: Biteback Publishing Ltd
2013  
Pg. ?:
Why did the robber take a bath before he stole from the bank? He wanted to make a clean getaway.
 
Google Books
Jokes For Kids:
300 Funny Trick Questions For Kids
By Jim Hogan
Pronoun
2017
Pg. ?:
Q: Why did the robber take a bath?
A: Because he wanted to make a clean getaway.
 
Google Books
Srsly Best Jokes Ever:
Jokes for Kids
By Chantelle Grace
Racine, WI: BroadStreet Kids
2017
Pg. ?:
Why did the robber take a bath before he stole from the bank?
He wanted to make a clean getaway.
   
Twitter
Lucky Score‏
@LuckyScoreNet
Why did the robber take a bath?
So he could
make a clean getaway.
#Joke from #BathJokes in #Jokes,  #Humor and #Satire
3:07 PM - 7 Sep 2017