Crime & Safety

Latest Emmaus Bank Heist Fits One FBI Statistic

Like many bank robberies, last Thursday's crime at First Niagara happened between 9 and 11 a.m.

The latest Emmaus bank robbery - - fits at least one of the statistics compiled by the FBI.

Like many bank heists, last Thursday happened between 9 and 11 a.m.

Friday is actually the most popular day for bank robberies, the FBI says.

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The FBI's most recent bank robbery report says the crime dropped compared to the same quarter in the previous year. There were 1,094 bank robberies and similar crimes between July 1 and September 30, 2011 - down from 1,325 during the same time in 2010.

Those robberies included:

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  • 363 in small towns 
  • 215 in suburban areas
  • 499 in larger cities

Emmaus police are investigating the crime. They have not said whether the robber got away with any money and they have not yet issued a description of the suspect.

The FBI's most recent report says:

  • Loot was taken in 89% of incidents, totaling more than $9.3 million.
  • Of the loot taken, 25% of it - more than $1.9 million - was recovered and returned to financial institutions.

No injuries were reported in Thursday's robbery.

The FBI reports:

  • Acts of violence were committed in 5% of the incidents, resulting in 18 injuries, three deaths, and four persons taken hostage.
  • Demand notes were the most common modus operandi used.

Robbers hit Emmaus banks four times in 2010 and twice last year, but the FBI says:

  • Most violations  in the third quarter of 2011 occurred in the Western region of the U.S., with 375 reported incidents.

Not all bank crimes are reported to the FBI, and therefore the report is not a complete statistical compilation of all bank crimes that occurred in the U.S.


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