During the third quarter of 2011, there were 1,094 reported violations of the Federal Bank Robbery and Incidental Crimes Statue, a decrease from the 1,325 reported violations in the same quarter of 2010. According to statistics from the FBI, there were 1,081 robberies, 11 burglaries, two larcenies, and one extortion of a financial institution reported between July 1, 2011 and September 30, 2011. Interestingly, more banks now use security video for forensics when it comes to robberies.

Highlights of the report include:

• Loot was taken in 89 percent of the incidents, totaling more than $9.3 million.
• Of the loot taken, 25 percent (or more than $1.9 million) was recovered and returned to financial institutions.
• Bank crimes most frequently occurred on Fridays. Regardless of the day, the time frame when bank crimes occurred most frequently was between 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.
• Acts of violence were committed in 5 percent of the incidents, resulting in 18 injuries, three deaths, and four persons taken hostage.
• Demand notes were the most common modus operandi used.
• Most violations occurred in the Western region of the U.S., with 375 reported incidents.

For more information, go to www.fbi.gov.

Security Devices Maintained by Victim Institutions

Alarm System                           1,069

Surveillance Cameras            1,084

Bait Money                                  672

Tear Gas/Dye Packs                262

Electronic Tracking                   145

Bullet-Resistant Enclosures   173

Guards                                           55

Source: The Federal Bureau of Investigation