That robbery, at PNC Bank, 2025 E. Main St., happened Aug. 6. Three days later, there was a holdup at Security National Bank, 2780 E. Main St. A third, unrelated heist occurred Aug. 10 at WesBanco in New Carlisle.
That’s more bank robberies in less than a week than the area saw in all of 2009.
Why people rob banks is largely a matter of speculation, but officials don’t think economic downturn is among the reasons.
“In my experience, most of the individuals I’ve seen arrested for bank robbery have some substance abuse problem,” said Mike Brooks, FBI spokesman, Cincinnati office.
That also may be why people keep robbing banks in spite of other risk factors, he said. Though authorities are still seeking the gunman who robbed WesBanco, arrests in these crimes are common, with the clearance rate about 60 percent, according to the FBI.
Bank robbery is a dangerous business to be in — of the 21 people killed nationwide during bank heists in 2009, all of them were suspected robbers.
“If (the robbers) have a weapon, these are potentially violent situations,” said Clark County Sheriff Gene Kelly. “Banks are supposed to be sacred places, people go there with their children, with their families.”
Anyone with information about the WesBanco robbery is asked to contact the Clark County Sheriff’s Office at (937) 328-2560.
Just after 9 a.m. Aug. 6, a man wearing a blue shirt and jeans strolled into PNC Bank, 2025 E. Main St., and took a place in line.
Once at the counter, he leaned over and gave instructions in a low voice.
“This is a robbery, don’t alert anyone, give me the money from the top drawer,” he said, according to a police report.
“Are you serious?” she asked, according to the report.
He was serious.
After taking an undisclosed amount of cash, the robber left and seemed to vanish into thin air.
His method of operation was common for a bank robbery. The spoken demand accounted for about 25 percent of all hold-ups nationwide, according to FBI statistics.
“They really don’t want anyone to pay attention to them,” said Harry Trombitas, FBI bank robbery coordinator, Cincinnati division. “The only person they want to know about the robbery is the teller.”
Also common is the arrest.
Michael E. Haynes, 58, was arrested three days after the PNC robbery, accused in connection to that heist and a second one Aug. 9 at Security National Bank, 2780 E. Main St.
A thief who robbed a WesBanco location in New Carlisle a day late in an unrelated holdup is still being sought.
Arrests in bank robberies happen in about 60 percent of the cases, according to FBI statistics.
Part of the reason for that is because many bank robbers are recidivists, said Trombitas.
“Most of the guys doing this are serial robbers,” said Trombitas.
And, holding up a bank is dangerous work. Of the 21 people killed in bank robberies nationwide last year, all were suspected robbers, according to FBI statistics.
The threat of violence is always present in bank robberies, as it was in the WesBanco hold-up in which the robber showed a gun, said Clark County Sheriff Gene Kelly.
“If there had been a confrontation (with that robber), it would have been violent,” said Kelly.
Typically, robbers don’t make off with much cash, usually just a few thousand dollars, said Kelly.
So why do they do it?
Desperation, among other things, said Trombitas.
“Most of our bank robbers are drug abusers,” he said. “If you’ve got a drug problem, you’ve got to get money.”
Nationwide, it was commercial banks, as opposed to mutual savings banks or savings and loans, that were hit hardest in 2009. Of bank robberies last year, 89 percent were commercial banks.
The thieves took cash mostly, more than $45 million last year. At least 99 percent of the property taken from banks nationwide was cash.
Less than $8 million of the cash taken in bank robberies nationwide was recovered, less than 20 percent of the amount taken.
Though arrests come often and sometimes quickly, the small recoveries may have to do with the drug addictions some bank robbers have, said Trombitas.
“After the robbery, their first stop is their drug dealer,” said Trombitas. “They don’t even make it home, they’re hitting the drug house.”
Some solutions might be to keep up with trends that have been successful so far, said Kelly.
“The bank employees are trained. In so many cases there are things placed inside the (robber’s) bag besides money that help us track the suspect,” he said.
Other banks are adopting a no-hat, no-sunglasses, no-hooded sweatshirt policy as a preventative measure.
It’s a method that’s been known to work because it draws attention to a robber as soon as he or she comes in the door, said Trombitas.
“An employee says, ‘Sir, you have to remove your hat,’ and it forces that individual to make a decision ... ‘Do I become the rule-breaker?’ ” he asked.
Drawing attention is the last thing a bank robber wants, and in some no-hat, no-sunglasses cases, the robber has simply turned around and left the bank when approached by an employee.
Kelly said investigators are hoping someone will come forward with information about the WesBanco robbery soon.
The robber was wearing a Halloween mask and heavy coat, Kelly said.
“It was 95 degrees that day, walking in with a coat is certainly suspicious,” he said.
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