Merkel was a contortionist and eccentric dancer employed by a small carnival that went bankrupt in 1942. In need of money, he decided to rob a department store. He snuck into its stockroom and disguised himself as a human-sized rag doll. Using his contortionist abilities, he sat in a strange posture in the stock room, and no one suspected that he was anything other than an inanimate doll. Thus he was able to rob the store that night.