Is recession behind spike in bank robberies?
A rash of bank robberies in New York has the city’s police commissioner worried that criminals have turned banks into “virtual cash machines” and some wondering whether tough economic times are fueling the trend.
On Monday alone, robbers targeted five banks in the Big Apple, some striking in broad daylight and near famous landmarks.
Police called the incidents unrelated, but they’re just the latest examples of the growing tally of hold-ups.
Bank robberies in New York have risen 54 percent compared with last year, with criminals committing more than 430 in the past 12 months, according to the New York police department.
“As it stands now, they’ve turned [banks] into virtual cash machines,” New York Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said.
Bank robberies are also up in many areas across the country, including San Diego, California, and Houston, Texas, federal law enforcement experts told CNN.
It’s enough for some to link the trend to the rash of layoffs, the plummeting stock market and the bust in the real estate values, all of which have left many Americans in dire financial straits.
“It makes me think that the recession is making people go to extreme measures,” a woman who frequents one of the banks robbed Monday told The New York Times.
CNN security analyst Mike Brooks agreed, adding that although there are typically many bank robberies during the holidays, there are no data to suggest that any recent spike was caused by the economy.
Another expert said it’s possible that the difficulty of finding a job right now may be a factor, but he doubted that law-abiding citizens are turning to crime to make ends meet.
Some officials say the modern, customer-friendly design of banks — with easy access to tellers and cash — is too tempting for robbers.
Mike Smith, president and CEO of the New York Bankers Association, is meeting with the NYPD to see what more can be done to discourage robbers. He said banks have a significant amount of security, some of which may not be visible to the public.
“Are there enhancements? Obviously. Criminals talk to each other, they know what’s going on, but typically they are apprehended,” Mike Smith said.
From CNN
