Monday, May 31, 2004
"Gee, boss. Isn't that Steven?"
There's no doubt about it. When robbery suspect photos are clear -- and the media displays them -- chances are quite good that someone in the viewing (or reading) audience will recognize the perp and notify the police.
That's just what happened Sunday down in Florida. A guy who worked at a Marco Island, FL restaurant was recognized by his boss and coworkers as the robber of a Fifth Third Bank branch in Naples last Friday. While robbing the bank, he was wearing a red wig restaurant employees had been given to wear on St. Patrick's Day. After his picture was published in the local paper, the jig was up. (Or, as one paper put it, "The wig is up.")
The robbery note was interesting. It reportedly read: "Hi! Don't wish to hurt anyone! You have 1:56 to get me out of here! In the lobby black bag 3.1 kilos of C4! Can be detonated up to 3 miles! 1st cop 1st problem Boom!!! $200,0000 OK!!" Is this guy attentive to detail, or what? It didn't help him avoid capture, however.
The bottom line is that two things are crucial. Clear surveillance photos, and media outlets willing to publish them.
Do you have any success stories about working with the media in your area to increase their use of bank robber photos? We'd love to hear them. Recently, we've seen too many news stories that read something like this: "Law enforcement authorities are seeking the public's help in identifying a serial bank robber who is believed to be responsible for X# of bank robberies in the __________ area. The suspect is a white male, 5'10", 180 pounds, with brown hair. When last seen, he was wearing blue jeans, a dark t-shirt, a baseball cap, and sunglasses." Is it any wonder those types of stories -- which appear without accompanying photos -- don't have any effect?
There's no doubt about it. When robbery suspect photos are clear -- and the media displays them -- chances are quite good that someone in the viewing (or reading) audience will recognize the perp and notify the police.
That's just what happened Sunday down in Florida. A guy who worked at a Marco Island, FL restaurant was recognized by his boss and coworkers as the robber of a Fifth Third Bank branch in Naples last Friday. While robbing the bank, he was wearing a red wig restaurant employees had been given to wear on St. Patrick's Day. After his picture was published in the local paper, the jig was up. (Or, as one paper put it, "The wig is up.")
The robbery note was interesting. It reportedly read: "Hi! Don't wish to hurt anyone! You have 1:56 to get me out of here! In the lobby black bag 3.1 kilos of C4! Can be detonated up to 3 miles! 1st cop 1st problem Boom!!! $200,0000 OK!!" Is this guy attentive to detail, or what? It didn't help him avoid capture, however.
The bottom line is that two things are crucial. Clear surveillance photos, and media outlets willing to publish them.
Do you have any success stories about working with the media in your area to increase their use of bank robber photos? We'd love to hear them. Recently, we've seen too many news stories that read something like this: "Law enforcement authorities are seeking the public's help in identifying a serial bank robber who is believed to be responsible for X# of bank robberies in the __________ area. The suspect is a white male, 5'10", 180 pounds, with brown hair. When last seen, he was wearing blue jeans, a dark t-shirt, a baseball cap, and sunglasses." Is it any wonder those types of stories -- which appear without accompanying photos -- don't have any effect?
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