Bank Crimes On The Rise, Says FBI; Fridays Busiest Day

Bank crimes are going up, according to the FBI.

Between Oct. 1, 2008 and Dec. 31, 2008, there were 1,617 robberies of financial institutions, as well as 25 burglaries and three larcenies, the latest FBI statistics show. This represents 1,645 reported violations, an increase from the third quarter’s total of 1,376.

Although the fourth quarter of 2008 showed a 19.5 percent increase in bank crimes from the third quarter of 2008, the total violations for the year 2008 came to 6,105—down from the 6,182 in 2007 and 7,272 2006 calendar year totals, according to Assistant Director Kenneth W. Kaiser, FBI Criminal Investigative Division.

Highlights of the report include:

• Of the 1,645 total reported violations, loot was taken in 1,527 incidents (93 percent). In contrast, loot was taken in 1,267 incidents (92 percent) during the third quarter of 2008.
• The total amount taken was valued at more than $15.4 million dollars, an increase from the previous quarter’s total of more than $12.5 million stolen.
• A note was used in 839 incidents; a firearm was used in 465 incidents; and robbers threatened the use of a weapon in 696 incidents.
• Acts of violence were committed during 75 of the reported incidents. These acts included 22 instances involving the discharge of firearms, 37 instances involving assaults, and 15 instances of hostage situations.
• Three deaths occurred during this reporting period, all three of which were perpetrators. No law enforcement officers were killed responding to these incidents.
• Most violations occurred on Friday.
• Regardless of the day of the week, violations between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. were the most common.