The Nightwatch Program, Inc. - Crime Prevention At Its Best

Bank Robberies: Not Just a Scene of the Wild West

When you think money, you usually think of banks. Whether it's deposit, withdrawal, checks, money order, dollars or cents, banks are basically the hub of money nationwide. But when some people look at a bank, they think not of the many transactions that go on every day there, but of robbing it. Although modern technology such as the internet, electronic locks, and alarm systems help foil many robberies, the basic walk in, rob the bank at gunpoint, and flee method has become increasingly common. However, in most cases, the robbers are often not the most professional thieves around, and are often either bumble their way to capture, or are too predictable to elude the police.

In a bank robbery, it is easy for something to go wrong. In the blink of an eye, you could go from making a withdrawal, to being a hostage in a bank robbery. Most robberies involve one robber, robbing one teller. In such a situation, it can very easily be traumatizing for the bank teller, who could react in a way that is counterproductive to the safety of the teller himself, and of the bank customers. Although you cannot do much during a robbery, the most important thing to remember is to avoid making sudden movements. Avoid activating an alarm when a robber can see you, fleeing from the bank, or calling the police. The robbers themselves are not usually very calm either, and can go off like a powder keg at the drop of a hat, and sudden movements can get them agitated, and that's when there is a high risk of injury.

Overall, there are a few thousand bank robberies a year. It is somewhat unlikely that you will directly experience a bank robbery, but with thousands of bank robberies in one year, it's very possible that it could happen to you. If it does, the best thing to do is stay as calm as possible, and avoid risking harm to you or fellow bank patrons.