Bank Holdups Plummet in 2004, FBI Says

The number of bank robberies in the seven-county area policed by the FBI’s Los Angeles office fell sharply in 2004, continuing a decade-long decline, the agency reported Wednesday.

Since the record for bank robberies in the area was set in 1992, with 2,641 -- an average of one every 42 minutes -- the number has steadily decreased to a low of 537 robberies last year, the FBI said.

“The number hasn’t been that low since the mid-’60s,” said Laura Eimiller, an FBI spokeswoman. She attributed the trend to advancements in bank security, increased cooperation among law enforcement agencies and aggressive prosecution of suspects.

The Southland, however, still ranks as the bank robbery capital of the United States, the FBI said. Easy access to freeways and the large number of banks make it a favorite for robbers, Eimiller said.

Also, the number of violent “take-over” robberies has hovered at the same level and become a growing concern for law enforcement.

In 2004, there were 168 take-over robberies, 47 of which involved an assault or robbery of employees or customers. In five cases, shots were fired but no one was wounded.

About 85% of the take-over robberies were committed by Los Angeles-area gangs, according to the FBI.

The report tallied 326 bank robberies in Los Angeles, 116 in Orange County, 41 in Riverside, 28 in San Bernardino, 20 in Ventura, five in Santa Barbara and one in San Luis Obispo, the FBI said.

About 75% of the robbers are caught, Eimiller said.

“They eventually make a mistake,” she said.