When Austrian banks decided to upgrade security, they sought the advice who know best, and conducted a study among bank robbers that was presented in Vienna on Thursday. Interviews with 41 convicted robbers showed that nearly half of them were inspired by media reports of similar crimes, and 5 per cent by films.
"I saw in newspapers how it works in general. I mean, I got my real information only through newspapers," a prisoner identified by his first name Adam said, quoted in a summary of the study that was provided by Erste Bank. Most perpetrators were unaware that banks no longer store large amounts of cash - a lack of knowledge that can be attributed to the fact that 31 per cent of the robbers described themselves as complete amateurs. Only 14 per cent were professional bank robbers, while the rest were criminals with no previous experience in the financial sector.
The study, launched by five major banks, found that would-be robbers could be deterred by placing cash tellers as far away from the entrance as possible, obstructing the outside view into the bank to prevent surveillance, improving the quality of security cameras, and by placing security personnel at the door. In 2008, there were 131 bank robberies in Austria. As banks have started implementing several of the security measures, this year's number is expected to be significantly lower, with only 94 heists recorded so far.
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