THE JOURNAL & TOPICS NEWSPAPERS | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2007
More Bank Branches Make For More Targets
Giovannelli Central, By RAY GIOVANNELLI
Chicago logged a record number of bank robberies in 2006 for the second year in a row. Two hundred eighty four holdups surpassed the 2005 record of 240. How serious did things get? On Sept. 25 a bank downtown was robbed twice.
The year 2007 has hit the starting blocks with six bank robberies in Chicago as of early January. Niles got into the act when a branch of TCF Bank was robbed in January. Not to be outdone by banks and their branches - Portillo's Restaurant was also robbed around the same time.
Metropolitan Chicago is not alone. Los Angeles, New York, Washington D.C. and Dallas also experienced more bank robberies in 2006.
Dallas County had 145 bank robberies in 2006, up from 64 the year before. Los Angeles led the nation with 470 bank robberies, up from 455 in 2005. In 2006, New York City had 280 bank robberies, up from 229 the year before. Washington D.C. had 50, up from 26 in 2005. When thinking about these increases it's tough to speculate why. Some experts believe there's a correlation with the economy and/or demographics.
But as far as I can see, the economy is doing alright and as for demographics, the aging of our population means a decrease in the 18 to 30 year old group which is responsible for most crimes.
As far as I'm concerned it is more likely that the multiplying bank branches sprouting-up throughout the country provide an increased number of attractive targets.
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