BankersOnline Security Spotlight

Using Law Enforcement to Train Staff

Using law enforcement to train staff can be an excellent tool, but keep in mind that law enforcement's goal is to apprehend robbers, while the financial institution's main goal is to create a safe environment.To ensure that you and the officer performing the training are in complete agreement regarding what is going to be taught, review the officer's agenda in advance.Remind the officer that varying from the agreed-upon topics could lead to an early end of his or her presentation.
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Welcome to the July Issue of Security Spotlight
Retirement is not the time for playing golf and going on vacation for a growing number of elder bank robbers, and a family intervenes to stop an up-and-coming robber from his life of crime in our featured robber section. With the rising heat comes the rise in ID Theft and the creative ways thieves are funding their summer expenses in our CrimeDex section and Anti-Phishing Blog.

Another Golden Oldie
Geezers and granddads move over...here comes the "Golden Years" bandit. During the time of life after retirement when most people enjoy traveling, golf and time off from active work, this gentleman has taken to a new life of crime. A serial bank robber the FBI is calling "The Golden Years Bandit" has three bank robberies under his belt in California - so far. A white male with a large build, in his fifties or sixties, with gray hair and a mustache, the Golden Years Bandit has struck at three locations along Valley Boulevard in San Gabriel, Rosemean and Alhambra. During his heists, he has alluded to having a partner and ordered tellers to move fast and not say a word.

Family Intervention
Caving into family pressure, the man dubbed the "Retro Robber" turned himself into authorities for robbing two PNC Banks in Columbus, Ohio in May and June. Authorities called him the "Retro Robber" for the retro attire - a long dark wig, psychedelic do-rag and sunglasses - he wore during his first robbery in May.

Michael J. Wellman, 37, from Columbus, was recognized by family members when surveillance images were released to the media. They confronted him about his involvement in the robberies. Wellman's apprehension was the 20th out of 24 (an 83% success rate) identified suspects in Central Ohio this year. Investigators thanked Mr. Wellman's family for stepping up and forcing Wellman to be accountable for his actions.

Be sure to check our Rogue's Gallery of Unknown Suspects page for photos and information on all the latest robbery suspects. Protect your institution by posting signage prohibiting hats, hoods and sunglasses. The effectiveness of this simple sign on your door is unsurpassed. Available now in two different designs in static cling format in the Banker Store.



A Little from All Over ...

Gilligan or the Geezer? -Who is robbing your bank? Even when an image is clear and crisp, and aimed very well, when the robber is disguised the best photo may not be of much help. This image of a man wearing a mask looks a lot like Gilligan. If he uses this disguise again, at least law enforcement will have a pattern to build on. Some thought this may be the "Geezer" bandit who has already robbed 11 banks in and around San Diego. This thief is shorter and was obviously wearing a mask. He also wears surgical gloves to avoid leaving prints.

Catch Him If You Can! -The Geezer bandit is believed to be 60 to 70 years old, but could just be good with makeup. Like "Gilligan," he wears gloves, but they are tan and don't stand out as much. His first reported bank heist was in August of last year, and he hit his 11th bank in late June. Even though he carries an oxygen tank, he also carries a gun and the FBI considers him dangerous. Maybe he and Gilligan will run into each other.

Who Took What? -A gunman with a black rubber mask that completely covered his head robbed a Wachovia branch on June 25th in New Jersey. The bank, or someone, revealed the amount stolen as $20,295. We don't think it's wise to disclose the amount taken, but a complete description of the robber can be helpful.

Time Ran Out -In "one for the good guys," Michael Coty pleaded guilty to three counts of armed bank robbery in Boston. Coty was masked, armed with a handgun and carried what he said was a bomb as he robbed banks. Coty was dubbed the "U-30" bandit because each teller he robbed said he had a radio device that provided him with a countdown from 30.

Tips That Paid Off -Another win for the good guys in Florida was the arrest of Robert Willey. Willey was arrested for a parole violation. Several tips to law enforcement led to his questioning and subsequent charges for the bank robbery at an American First Bank branch. Willey wore a surgical mask, and gave the teller a note demanding twenties, tens and fives only and to not to look at his face. Despite his disguise, the bank's security camera managed to capture a decent picture. He and his getaway car were caught on surveillance video at two other banks later that same day. His arrest may have prevented those two other banks from being robbed as well.

Behind Closed Doors -Prevention is a key you always emphasize when you train on security. Keeping the doors locked that are supposed to be closed and locked is basic. In Athens County, Ohio police are looking for a masked man who attempted to rob the Hocking Valley Bank in Coolville. He and his car were caught on camera after he attempted to gain entry through a locked back door of the bank. What if that was the door to the smokers' area? Are your doors ever left propped open?

In the Wrong Place at the Wrong Time -During a bank robbery, both your employees and customers are often threatened. In Worcester, MA an armed man entered the TD Bank wearing a dark mask, black gloves and hooded sweatshirt, concealing his race and age.He ordered a customer to the ground as he approached the teller with the handgun demanding cash and also robbed the customer who had been standing by the teller. The robber then stated that he had a grenade, warning the teller not to call the police as he exited. Both the customer and employees were interviewed by police.Alerts & Counterfeits
Twenty-three alerts were sent in June 2010. Six were sent on June 7th, ten a week later on the 14th and four more the next week on the 21st. You can see the pattern of notices one day a week, every week - with the exception of the final three notices on June 22nd and then none after that in June. This is exactly why you need to subscribe to BOL's daily Compliance Briefing where we report each regulator's alerts the morning after they are released.

Of the twenty-three notices, there was no geographic concentration. Sixteen states had at least one report, with MN, WI and NJ each having two; and both TX and IL had three. Of these notices, two concerned money orders while counterfeit checks were the vast majority of the items, as is common. Subscribing to the Compliance Briefing will put these alerts in your inbox the very next morning, regardless of who your regulator is. Since it's free, you can have your backup subscribe as well, in case you are out that day. You can also verify the current and archived listings on our Alerts & Counterfeits page.


CrimeDex reports ID theft, fraudulent checks, counterfeit cards and (of course) robberies
Crime reports have certainly taken no time off for the warmer summer months. June's collection of CrimeDex alerts reflects not only that criminals continue to separate banks, businesses and people from their money, but also the variety of ways they use to steal those funds. The month started with a fugitive alert concerning an ID thief and counterfeit check artist wanted by Idaho authorities (a report later in the month announced the arrest of one of his known associates). A California police department reported arresting a serial counterfeit credit card artist with equipment and lists of stolen identities for manufacturing and using credible counterfeit cards. Counterfeit or stolen checks were described in alerts from Wisconsin, California and Massachusetts. Robberies were reported of the Ocean Bank in Derry, NH; a supermarket bank branch in Roseville, CA; First Banking Center in Pell Lake, WI; and Southbridge Savings Bank, Spencer, MA.

Subscribers to BOL CrimeDex regularly receive alerts from across the country or from selected regions. Each month's alerts provide insight into criminal techniques as well as other information bank security departments can use to help avoid being victimized by robbers, fraudsters and other thieves. For more information, check out BOL CrimeDex.


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When it comes to training for security or reviewing your security plans, do you include what happens before, during and after a robbery? This blog post was inspired by the disclaimer under the picture of a masked robber. Obviously prepared with the legal implications in mind, these types of issues need to be decided in advance. Read more about this and preparedness tools in the Security Blog

As Security Officer you may get involved in electronic thefts. These generally start with a customer's account and a claim may then be made against the bank by that customer who wants their money back. Were the customer's logon credentials used? Have they been shared with anyone? Your bank may use the latest in security to protect both the bank and the customer, but thieves are learning how to defeat even the best security. Read more at our Anti-Phishing Blog.

We haven't had any new security related tools submitted in the last month. But we want to remind you to look at the Security section in our BOL Banker Tools page because a tool that was of no interest to you during your last visit may be of use today. Many of these tools are designed to help you before, during and after a robbery as well as during your training of bank staff.Check out the "Password Training" tool in Our Newest Tools Section, on the Banker Tools page.

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