Why Are Banks Still Being Robbed?

Great question! You are correct - most robbers are caught. The clearance rate for bank robbery, according to the FBI, is among the highest of crimes at nearly 60%, with many criminals apprehended the same day. ABC News calls bank robbery a ‘Loser Crime’ because the robberies seldom yield more than a few thousand dollars, and the majority of the criminals who are caught are facing tough prison terms. Robert McCrie, Ph.D., a professor of security management at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York is the source of the ABC News’ tagline. McCrie adds, “So little money and so much that one gives up afterward: two, three, four years of freedom. And that’s just with a note.”

Bank robberies are relatively uncommon, representing only about 2 of every 100 robberies, according to the Arizona State University Center for Problem-Oriented Policing (ASU). The likelihood of catching a bank robber on or near the scene is higher than for other crimes. This is because most evets are quickly reported, occur during daylight hours, often have multiple witnesses, and consistently produce excellent photographic images. The FBI report that the rate of bank robberies has been on the decline. (2,975 bank robberies in 2018, down from 3,880 in 2017, & 4,185 in 2016.) However, 2,975 robberies – equating to approximately 11 events each business day in 2018 – confirm that the problem persists.

Understanding the factors that contribute to the bank robbery problem can be explained by multiple factors, including:

1. Banks remain the most lucrative of all robbery targets because upwards of 80 percent of stolen money is never recovered
2. Bank robberies are usually fast, low-risk crimes, because employees are trained to comply with robber’s demands. And, although the risk of arrest is high – much of the risk is short term, and risk - as reflected by clearance rates - decline over time. Statistically, bank robberies, like other crimes, that are not solved quickly are less likely to be solved at all.
3. Extensive bank outlets and extended business hours increase the opportunity for robberies.

Types of bank robbers: Most bank robberies do not appear to be well-planned offenses committed by professional criminals. Increasing evidence suggests that many bank robberies are spontaneous and opportunistic crimes that are often acts of desperation. Solitary offenders commit the vast majority – approximately 80 percent of bank robberies. Weapons are less common in bank robberies - with criminals avoiding any threats of violence. Overall, most bank robbers do not bother with disguises, and most do not have prior convictions for bank crime.

Because most bank robberies are committed by solitary, unarmed and undisguised offenders, they can be considered the work of amateurs rather than professionals. For example, bank robberies by amateurs are less successful. Takeover robberies, those involving multiple armed professional offenders, are less common but much more lucrative for the criminals. Losses in takeover robberies average ten times higher than the typical event.

Risk, and prior victimization: Bank robbery data suggests that all bank branches are at risk of robbery; however, the vast majority of banking centers do not get robbed. Over time, branches that have been robbed once, are often robbed again – a phenomenon known as repeat victimization.

This Q&A originally appeared in Bankers' Hotline. For more information, sample issues, and to subscribe, click here or email bh@bankersonline.com