Robberies Are Up...Oh, Really?

We have been getting calls in this office about twice a week from newspaper reporters or radio stations asking us to comment on the number of robberies of financial institutions taking place in the United States. It seems the headlines are starting to talk about a "robbery epidemic."

One reporter said she "had heard" that the reason there are more robberies now than ever before was the lack of up-to-date equipment in banking offices, which made robbers perceive the feeling of "can't identify-can't get caught."

Another said he "had heard" that the problem was almost entirely city related and that drugs were the major underlying cause. (Partially true-the FBI feels between 50% and 80% are drug related)

A very aggressive reporter (definitely not my favorite) complained during our conversation at the lack of cooperation of financial institutions when they had been robbed. She said, "I can't get names, amounts, details or anything out of most of them. It's downright frustrating! Is there some trick I can use to get the information I want?" Fat chance.

We were warned
The fact is, we knew this activity was going to be increasing starting in 1991. The Federal Bureau of Investigation started telling us over a year ago that violent crime (including robbery) was on an upswing. As early as spring of 1990, Prof. William Tofoya, instructor at the Federal Bureau's school for agents in Quantico, told banking officers at a security conference, "The 90's will usher in a period of unprecedented violent crime, on the streets and against the establishment. An obvious target will be the financial institutions of this country."

Forward looking security officers started preparing for this increase in crime activity months ago. Training frequency and intensity has increased, teller limits are being more carefully adhered to and audited, and law enforcement liaison and cooperation are being carefully cultivated and maintained.

The most astonishing statistic about the increase in the number of robberies is the fact that more cash is lost through the ATMs than is lost to bank robbers-almost eight times as much according to one FBI source.

And over 70% of bank robbers get caught-attesting to the training, alertness and identification skills of our front line personnel. Less than 30% of those who "take" us through check fraud and the ATM get caught. But there are no headlines or excitement in evidence about these "robbers".

There were 7,106 financial institution robberies in 1989; 8,235 in 1990. If the number of robberies of financial institutions continue in their present trend, the FBI estimates the count will be well over 10,000 in 1991.

As we continue to fight back with bullet resistant glass, dye packs, CCTV, guards and training, our greatest concern is that our legitimate customers feel safe when they come into our banking offices. Bankers and law enforcement will do their job and the word will filter that robbing a financial institution is not profitable nor easy.

By continuing to do business on the professional level we have come to expect from our front line, we will weather the latest storm to hit our industry. As Winston Churchill said, "This too shall pass."

Copyright © 1991 Bankers' Hotline. Originally appeared in Bankers' Hotline, Vol. 2, No. 8, 10/91