The criminal act of stealing from a bank while bank employees or customers present are subjected to force, violence or the threat of violence, distinguishing it from burglary, which involves unlawful entry to commit theft without necessarily confronting people on the premises. In the United States it is prosecuted as a federal offense under 18 U.S.C. 2113, and the FBI defines robbery broadly as taking or attempting to take anything of value by force or threat of force. Bank robberies target branch counters and tellers rather than other bank-owned assets such as armored transport, and the offense carries one of the highest clearance rates among crimes, close to sixty percent, because most robberies occur in daylight with witnesses present and security cameras that quickly identify suspects. The most common contemporary method is the note job, in which a robber passes a written demand to a teller while trying to avoid drawing attention, typically escaping with a relatively small amount of cash.
Facts
Classification CodeIn the United States, bank robbery is a federal crime, defined and made illegal primarily by the bank robbery statute at 18 U.S.C. section 2113. 1 Typical PenaltyUnited States Federal Sentencing Guidelines impose long prison terms for bank robbery, usually enhanced further by the use or carrying of a loaded firearm, prior criminal convictions, and the lack of parole in the federal prison system. 1 Elements of OffenseThe FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting Program defines robbery, the element that distinguishes bank robbery from burglary, as the taking or attempting to take anything of value from a person's care, custody or control by force, threat of force or violence, or by putting the victim in fear; burglary by contrast requires only unlawful entry to commit a felony or theft, without necessarily confronting a person. 1 Notable ExampleThe October 27, 1878 robbery of the Manhattan Savings Institution in New York was, at the time, the largest bank robbery in United States history. 1 Jurisdiction VariationBank robbery is prosecuted as a federal offense in the United States, while in other countries it is typically an ordinary matter of local criminal law; the weapons robbers use also vary by jurisdiction's own firearms laws, with the sawed-off shotgun a common robbery weapon in the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand, where handguns are difficult to obtain legally. 1 Classification
Offense GradeSerious or Indictable Offense 1 In the Other Atlases
- Also in Geography Atlas: Australia, found in there.
- Also in Geography Atlas: Europe, found in there.
- Also in Geography Atlas: North America, found in there.
Sources
1. Bank Robbery (Wikipedia)
Wikipedialead paragraph, first sentence
Bank robbery is the criminal act of stealing from a bank, specifically while bank employees and customers are subjected to force, violence, or a threat of violence.
US federal statute section
bank robbery in the United States is defined, and made illegal, primarily by the bank robbery statute in 18 U.S.C. § 2113
Overview, FBI definition
the taking or attempting to take anything of value from the care, custody, or control of a person or persons by force or threat of force or violence or by putting the victim in fear
Prevention section, weapon choice by country
The sawed-off shotgun, a common robbery weapon in the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand where handguns are difficult to obtain, is easily concealable but not particularly effective.
History, Early examples subsection
On October 27, 1878, the Manhattan Savings Institution was robbed. It was the largest bank robbery in U.S. history.
Prevention section, sentencing
United States Federal Sentencing Guidelines for bank robbery gives long prison terms, which are usually further enhanced by the use or carrying of loaded firearms, prior criminal convictions, and the absence of parole from the federal prison system.
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