New York City Robberies Zoom Upward in 2003

Bank robberies in New York City have increased by 64 percent in the past year despite a general decrease in other crime rates, according to New York Police Department statistics. There were over 400 bank robberies in the city in 2003, compared to 250 in 2002. Most of them occurred by note-passing. The vast majority of the crimes (342) were carried out using no weapon.

Police and some city officials blame the increase in unarmed bank robberies on banks themselves - saying they have become too consumer friendly in the interest of attracting business. A bill now before the city's council would require banks to install bullet-resistant barriers in front of tellers with penalties for noncompliance in the thousand-dollar range.

Others say note-passing robberies, which tend to be spontaneous, unplanned crimes, are a result of the city's bad economic times. The New York Bankers Association, which opposes mandatory bandit barriers, says it favors "vigilant surveillance," silent alarms and tougher sentences for criminals.

Copyright © 2004 Bankers' Hotline. Originally appeared in Bankers' Hotline, Vol. 13, No. 10, 1/04