Police are warning the public as an increase in violent “bankruptcy” robberies is on the rise across Southern California, especially during the holidays.
“Bank hunting” involves thieves stalking potential victims in bank parking lots following them to their next destination to rob them.
Popular shopping malls are prime areas for suspects looking for their next target.
“These are dangerous crimes,” Lt. Derek Green with the Burbank Police Department tells KTLA’s John Fenoglio. “The crime is usually when a group of people follow unsuspecting victims to a bank and expect them to withdraw a large amount of cash. Once the victim leaves the bank, they follow them to their intended destination.”
Police say this type of organized robbery is nothing new.
“You usually have someone driving a vehicle,” Green explains. “Often, you have someone who’s actually in the bank posing as a customer themselves and they’re communicating with each other, so they’re paying attention to their victims.”
Surveillance video captured a bank robbery incident in Sherman Oaks last July.
A customer is seen exiting a Wells Fargo bank on Ventura Boulevard with a bag containing $10,000 in cash. Little did he know, two suspects – a gunman and a fleeing driver – had pulled into the parking lot, waiting for him to get out.
As the victim walks to his car, a suspect is seen sprinting toward the victim and confronting him with a handgun.
The victim runs and jumps over a small concrete wall before falling down and throwing the money in the air. The suspect is seen picking up the fallen wads of cash before running away.
Police say these types of violent robberies — both bank robberies and post-home robberies — are becoming increasingly common.
Some residents are worried about the increase in bank gambling, constantly looking at their backs when visiting an ATM or bank.
“I don’t bring my whole purse or my wallet with me,” Hilda Avanessian said. “I just take my little credit card and put it in my pocket and walk into the bank and walk out. I’m afraid because I don’t know who’s coming from behind.”
Police said customers seen buying luxury handbags and jewelry or people who own jewelry businesses are also being targeted and followed home.
“We just have to be aware of our surroundings at all times,” advises Green. “If there’s something that doesn’t look right, it probably isn’t. Trust your instincts, get hold of the police, and if you think you’re being followed, drive to your nearest police station or place of safety.”
Tips to avoid being targeted after visiting the bank include hiding bank envelopes inside a bag when leaving the bank and taking any valuables with you at your next destination instead of leaving or hiding them in the car.
How common is a bank robbery? Bank robberies make up about 2% of all robberies. So, despite what the movies say about bank robberies, bank robberies are not that common. In fact, only 2 out of every 100 robberies involve a bank.
What is the biggest unsolved bank robbery?
High stakes and shrouded in mystery, here are three of the biggest unsolved heists in modern times.
- The Belfast Bank robbery (2004) …
- The Antwerp Diamond Heist (2003) …
- The Banco Central heist (2005)
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What time do robbers usually rob?
Knowing when most burglaries occur is powerful information. The most common times for break-ins occur between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Rather than being on guard at night, most burglars choose the time of day to attempt a break-in, targeting homes when they believe no one will be around.
What time of day do most robberies happen? Burglars Tend To Break In Between 10 AM and 3 PM Everything You Should Know Hollywood just got it wrong. There will always be exceptions. Some burglars choose to break in at night, so it’s a good idea to have security measures in place no matter the time.
What time do most break-ins occur at night?
Contrary to popular belief, most burglaries do not happen at night at all. Instead, 65% of burglaries occur between 6am and 6pm. Most thieves don’t want to risk running into anyone, so they’ll try your home when you’re most likely to be at work. The most common times for burglary to occur are between 10am-3pm.
What time of day do most home invasions occur?
Common home invasions occur between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. when the home owners are often away from home. However, 27.6% of all home burglaries, someone is home at the time of the burglary.
Does leaving a light on at night deter burglars?
No, leaving lights on can make intruders think you’re not home. Use a motion sensor that turns on when you or anyone else gets close so you only have light when you need it.
Do people rob houses at night?
Most burglaries occur between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Contrary to popular belief, the majority of home burglaries occur during daylight hours, not at night. That’s because most people are at work or school, which reduces the chance that the burglar will be noticed.
What time do most burglaries take place?
So when do burglars break into homes? As we mentioned earlier, thieves do not always enter a home at night. Studies have shown that 60 to 70% of all burglaries occur during the day between 6am and 6am. The key time is between noon and 2:30 p.m.
Does leaving a light on at night deter burglars?
No, leaving lights on can make intruders think you’re not home. Use a motion sensor that turns on when you or anyone else gets close so you only have light when you need it.
Why does burglary happen at night?
Because homeowners tend to be home at night, criminals often encounter them. In that case, the burglar may not have intended to commit another crime, but do so because the opportunity arises. Burglaries that occur at night are generally considered more serious.
Who robbed a bank and never got caught?
| Willie Sutton | |
|---|---|
| added | March 20, 1950 |
| Captured | February 1952 |
| Number | 11 |
| Captured |
Do banks still use dye packs?
More than 75 percent of banks in the United States still use dye packages. In the past, they were made of plastic and were quite detectable to criminals, but today, technology has made them almost indistinguishable. The dye is housed in a thin, flexible package that makes it look like a regular stack of money.