FBI Launches National Website Dedicated to Identifying Unknown Bank Robbers
BankRobbers.fbi.gov Includes Bank Robbery Fugitives in Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C.

WASHINGTON, DC—The FBI has launched a national website dedicated to identifying unknown bank robbers from the FBI’s 56 field offices. In addition to featuring traditional wanted posters and surveillance pictures of unknown wanted bank robbers, bankrobbers.fbi.gov allows the public to search by the unknown robber’s nickname, robbery location, and the date of the robbery. Each bank robbery is plotted on a Google map of the U.S. that can be viewed down to the street level.

The FBI Washington Field Office’s Violent Crimes Task Force works with local law enforcement to combat individuals who rob, attempt to rob, or break into financial institutions. Many bank robberies are committed using verbal demands or notes; however, the use of weapons and threats of violence are also common. The FBI wants to remove the threat of violence from financial institutions in our region by identifying and holding accountable those who commit these robberies. For this reason, the FBI is launching this national website to seek the public’s assistance in identifying unknown subjects.

In fiscal year 2012, a total of 49 bank robberies occurred in Washington, D.C. and Northern Virginia. This accounted for the fewest number of bank robberies in more than 10 years. Of those bank robberies, 15 occurred in Washington, D.C., and 34 occurred in Northern Virginia. In fiscal year 2011, a total of 80 bank robberies occurred, with 23 in Washington, D.C., and 57 in Northern Virginia.

Starting on January 10, digital bus shelter billboards in Washington, D.C., will feature the bankrobbers.fbi.gov website along with surveillance pictures of unknown wanted bank robbers from Washington, D.C. and Northern Virginia.

The FBI has had a primary role in bank robbery investigations since the 1930s, when John Dillinger and his gang were robbing banks and capturing the public’s imagination. In 1934, it became a federal crime to rob any national bank or state member bank of the Federal Reserve. The law then expanded to include bank burglary and larceny with jurisdiction delegated to the FBI.

Note: Interview opportunities are available upon request with FBI officials related to the launch of bankrobbers.fbi.gov. Please contact FBI Washington Field Office of Public Affairs at 202-278-3519.