Tulsa World: Bank heists on upswing across state

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Bank heists on upswing across state
But the economy is not likely the cause, says an FBI spokesman.

By RON JACKSON NewsOK.com
Published: 8/10/2009 2:23 AM
Last Modified: 8/10/2009 3:36 AM

Hollywood glamorized the Depression-era bank robber John Dillinger this summer in a movie starring Johnny Depp, but real bank robbers are far from glamorous. They're desperate people driven to desperate acts.

The proof can be found in the FBI files and Oklahoma's federal courts, both of which have been overrun this year with bank robbery cases. As of Sunday, officials had investigated 59 bank robberies statewide from towns as far-reaching as Idabel in the southeast to Woodward in the northwest. That compares to 36 bank robberies in the state all of last year and prompts speculation about the dramatic upswing in bank heists.

Is the struggling economy to blame? Gambling? Drugs? Or all of the above?

"The numbers are definitely above average," said Gary Johnson, an FBI spokesman. "But I wouldn't read too much into the numbers at this point. I've been doing this for a long time now. Bank robberies are cyclical, and every bank robber has their own motivation for why they do what they do.

Click here to read the complete article at NewsOK.com.

rjackson@opubco.com

By RON JACKSON NewsOK.com

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	Report Comment olddude, tulsa (8/10/2009 7:20:38 AM) When Dillinger was ask why he robbed banks,he said that's where the money is.
	Report Comment Groove Monster, San Antonio (8/10/2009 9:29:15 AM) How can they count out the current economy as a reason for the rise in these heists? People are losing their homes, desperate for jobs to support themselves and their families a lot of people will at some point cross a line they never thought they would consider.
	Report Comment Oldfatdude, Shattrath (8/10/2009 10:23:44 AM) "But I wouldn't read too much into the numbers" doesn't mean he's completely ruling out the economic conditions. It's just one of many factors and each case has unique motivations.
	Report Comment Jumbo, (8/10/2009 11:24:15 AM) Maybe in Dillinger's day a bank robbery could net a lot of money. However, with all the controls in place today, bank robbers never obtain any real money from their efforts. They are essentially always caught and serve long prison sentences for their crimes. The bank robber is probably the dumbest criminal (and that is saying a lot) that there is out there.
	Report Comment okie ridgerunner, Small Country Town State Line (8/10/2009 12:14:31 PM) They are dumb. that is where the money is but they do not really get much of it.and when they go to prison what does it break down to per hour that they have made.nothing they end up oweing a lot.

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