by Nick Castele
At least seven banks have been robbed in Cuyahoga County in the past week and a half. But the rash of robberies brings this year's numbers almost on par with the number of bank heists last year.
People have robbed banks in Cleveland, Parma and Euclid in the past several days. A bank in Bay Village was a target earlier last month. One man entered a Cleveland bank with no visible weapon—he even didn’t wear a disguise, his face captured in detail by security cameras.
Numbers from the FBI show people have pilfered from 21 banks so far this year in Cuyahoga County, compared to 26 by this time last year.
Carol Dodgen, a security consultant in Alabama, said many people who rob banks are what the experts call “note-passers.”
“He does count on being able to go in and not be recognized, just going in…waiting in line, passing a note, not displaying a weapon because he does not want to create a scene,” Dodgen said.
Security experts say many people rob banks in search of money for drugs. And while there are more note-passers than those attempting armed takeovers of banks, the experts advise it’s safest for everyone not to resist someone committing a robbery.
“I would tell the customers the same thing as I would tell an employee in that situation, and that would be to comply with the demands,” Dodgen said. “Chances are it’s going to be over in a couple of minutes, in most cases no one gets hurt, because really their motivation is the money.”
Tom Lekan was chief security officer for Key Bank for many years. He said banks have plenty of ways to record the people inside.
“Banks today have very highly sophisticated camera systems and other systems, alarm systems, recognition systems.” Lekan said. “So it’s pretty much going to happen that you’re going to get caught.”
Lekan points out that local bank branches usually don’t hoard huge piles of cash. And while someone may be able to walk out of the bank door with stolen money, experts say it’s very likely they’ll be apprehended.
