Need a Job? Become a Bank Robber

It seems alarming the number of bank robberies that have happened lately. As of Feb. 11th there had already been 30 bank robberies in Washington this year. That is .714 robberies per day. Last month, in a single day, three banks were robbed within four hours of each other.

The FBI claims that this spike in the number of bank robberies is not related to the economy, but you have to consider the old adage that desperate times call for desperate measures. In the Month of January 598,000 more jobs disappeared across the United States. The job losses and subsequent increase in unemployment has left many people desperately searching for a source of income. People still need to provide for themselves and their families. With limited options available for the unemployed, one “career path” has become increasingly popular, Bank Robbery.

The increase of people entering this “profession” is not alarming when the ease with which the bandits can make off with the money is considered. All that is required to rob a bank is a simple note saying that you have a gun. No weapon need to be shown. In fact the robber does not even need to have a weapon at all, just a harmless little note. Once the note is shown it is bank protocol to meet the robber’s demands, let them leave, and then contact the police if an alarm has not already been sent. This policy makes sense when the potential risk of a real gun is considered, but something just seems weird about giving a thief money that easily.

Today's Bank Robber

Sources: cnn.com, seattletimes.com