NCJ Number
174944
Journal
FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin Volume: 66 Issue: 4 Dated: April 1997 Pages: 9-18
Date Published
1997
Length
10 pages
Annotation
The Chicago Police Department and the Chicago Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the research called the Chicago Bank Robbery Initiative to determine the crucial factors that influenced bank robbers' decisions, the security measures with the greatest deterrent effect, and the actions most effective in helping police apprehend suspects.
Abstract
The city experienced a record 71 bank robberies in 1993 and 74 bank robberies in 1994. The research effort began in 1994 with a review of national and local statistical data and Federal and local crime reports. Investigators also interviewed five convicted robbers and inspected area banking facilities, including both those that had been robbed and those that had not been targeted. Results revealed that the prime time for bank robberies is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday is the day of choice. The average offender is a male over age 30 who is not armed. The interviewed offenders had all graduated to bank robbery from other types of commercial robbery. Security inspections revealed that closed-circuit television has become the preferred surveillance device of many area financial institutions, but images often had poor quality and cameras were often positioned too far away from the area being monitored. The police department and the FBI wrote specific recommendations to aid banking officials in making their institutions less vulnerable to robbery. They also organized a seminar for bank employees. Most of the information can be applied to robberies involving financial institutions in any jurisdiction. Photographs and list of guidelines for closed-circuit television systems