Technology vs. walk-in bank robbers

Cybercrime gets most of the media attention when it comes to bank robbery these days. But the old-fashioned hold-up remains a serious problem.

Technology has played a role in combating such crime. Digital surveillance, remote-controlled access points, dye packs and even facial recognition software are all a big help. Some banks are using cash bags with embedded chips to later track the perps. In one case recently, a GPS tracking device was used by police to figure out that a parolee was in a Citibank branch at the time a theft was occurring. The thief was wearing the device as a condition of his parole. Not too smart.

But in the end, banks have focused so much on customer service that security has taken a hit. It's very tempting for some people to try this sort of theft. There are some low-tech methods of which banks can take advantage, like ban certain clothing items. The FBI is pushing a "no hats, no hoods, no sunglasses, no cell phones" policy to banks. But in the end, this sort of theft has to be made more difficult to get away with. So law enforcement needs to make this a priority. That may be the only effective deterrent, apart from a growing economy.

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