Blue states see bank robberies increase, bandits get bolder

CEO and President of the Colorado Bankers Association, Jenifer Waller is sounding the alarm on her state’s shocking bank robbery rate.

The rate of bank robberies has dramatically plummeted in recent years, but some blue states are still fighting the crime. Colorado is among the states with the highest rate of such heists, following California and Illinois. FBI statistics indicate that there were 104 bank robberies in 2023 for Colorado, which is the most recent year they have information for. Meanwhile, Illinois had 119 and California saw a shocking 192.

“Colorado, unfortunately, has always been high in robbery,” Waller told Fox News Digital. “We compete with California and a few other states for the number one position on bank robberies.”

In 2021, the state saw a shocking 191 robberies. While it appears that the overall number is one the decline, Waller expressed concern that it may be edging back upward.

“We saw what I would consider a drastic increase a little over a year ago,” she noted. “Some of our member banks have noticed a slight uptick again in recent months.”

She also says she has no idea why the number continues to rise, calling it a complex issue.

“I’ve often questioned if the easy access to highways and interstates doesn’t aid in bank robberies here,” she mused. “But I don’t have a solid answer. It could also be a downturn economically that motivates it — we have seen that in the past.”

The biggest issue with bank robberies is that they are crimes that can go from 0 to 100 very quickly, putting innocent employees and customers in danger at any given time.

“On Sept. 24, Aurora police were called to a BMO Bank branch after a man pulled a gun on a teller and demanded cash,” Fox News reported.

“A man walked in, went straight to the middle counter, pulled out a gun, put it into one of the employees’ faces and demanded money,” said an Aurora Police Department (APD) spokesperson.

The suspect was able to skip out with $1,000. He was later arrested thanks to a license-plate reader hit, and was reportedly identified as 41-year-old Matthew Procella.

The increase in robberies has resulted in banks taking greater steps in security not only to protect customers who may be involved in a robbery attempt, but to hopefully deter the act entirely.

“Banks are very proactive. Our number one priority is ensuring the safety of our customers and employees in any robbery situation,” Waller explained. “One thing we saw implemented … is where banks’ doors would be locked and the customers would have to get access to come inside the bank. We’ve seen banks continue that as a means of security.”

“The majority of robberies in Colorado and nationwide are note jobs and nonviolent robberies,” she continued. “Usually not even a gun is drawn.”

That said, Waller recognizes that even the “nonviolent” robberies aren’t “victimless crimes.”

“Bank robbery isn’t a victimless crime, Those involved — employees and customers alike — experience a certain amount of stress, even if it’s just a note job.”

Writer/Columnist

Sierra Marlee is a millennial whose hunger for the truth in a world of fake news has led her to BizPac Review.

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