FBI Releases Quarterly Bank Crime Statistics

Today the FBI released statistics which show a minor increase in reported bank robberies for the first quarter of 2008. Between January 1, 2008 and March 31, 2008, there were 1,604 total bank robberies of financial institutions¹, or 34 more robberies than occurred during the last quarter of 2007. In addition, 32 burglaries and five larcenies were also reported. Combined with the robberies, the data shows a total of 1,641 total violations of the Federal Bank Robbery and Incidental Crimes Statute.

“Today’s statistics show a small increase in violations of the Federal Bank Robbery and Incidental Crimes Statute in the first quarter of 2008,” said Assistant Director Kenneth W. Kaiser, FBI Criminal Investigative Division. “The FBI will continue to use the force-multiplier effect of its local and state partners to investigate the incidences of bank robberies, bank larcenies, and bank burglaries across the nation.”

Highlights of the report include the following:

• Of the 1,641 total reported violations, loot was taken in 1,409 instances (91 percent). In contrast, loot was taken in 1,485 incidents (92 percent) during the fourth quarter of 2007.
• The total amount taken was valued at more than $15 million dollars. This represents a marked decrease from the previous quarter, in which more than $25 million was stolen.
• Of the 1,604 robberies, a note was used in 947 incidents; a firearm was used in 405 incidents; and robbers threatened the use of a weapon in 702 incidents.
• A total of 29 people were injured during robberies, 15 of which were bank employees.
• No law enforcement officers were killed during this reporting period, but three perpetrators were killed while robbing banks.
• During the incidents occurring in the quarter, 19 hostages were taken.
• Most violations occurred on Friday. Regardless of the day of the week, violations between the hours of 9:00 am and 11:00 am were the most common. The fewest incidents took place on Sunday.

View the detailed report and learn more about the FBI at www.fbi.gov.

¹Financial institutions include commercial banks, mutual savings banks, savings and loan associations, and credit unions.