FBI Releases Bank Crime Statistics for First Quarter of 2009

Today the FBI released bank crime statistics for the first quarter of 2009. Between January 1, 2009 and March 31, 2009, there were 1,498 robberies of financial institutions*, 18 burglaries, five larcenies, and three extortions reported. This represents 1,524 reported violations of the Federal Bank Robbery and Incidental Crimes Statue, a decrease from the 1,642 reported violations in the same quarter of 2008.

Highlights of the report include:

• Loot was taken in 92 percent of the incidents, totaling more than $11.4 million.
• Of the loot taken, 22 percent of it was recovered. More than $1.9 million was returned to the financial institutions.
• Bank crimes most frequently occurred on Friday. 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 4 percent of the 1,524 reported incidents, resulting in 38 injuries, five deaths, and 17 hostages taken. The five people killed were the perpetrators.
• The most common methods used were oral demands, closely followed by written notes.
• The southern region of the U.S. had the most violations, with 485 reported incidents.

These statistics were recorded as of June 17, 2009. Note that 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 United States.

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

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