What to make of 2013 being the first year since records began that there were no bank heists in Scotland?
New figures from the British Bankers' Association show that, after peaking at 80 bank robberies in 1992, numbers have dwindled to none at all in Scotland last year. UK-wide there were 89 bank robberies last year, against an all-time high of 847 in 1992. The fact that less cash is kept in bank branches than a decade ago is clearly a factor, along with better CCTV, plus security features including protective screens.
Or perhaps, with the recession showing signs of coming to an end, would-be villains are less likely to be twiddling their thumbs, and just can't be bothered with the stocking and sawn-off-shotgun routine …
Anthony Browne of the BBA said this is seriously good news. He said: "Being caught up in a bank job is a terrifying ordeal for staff and customers that can scar lives for decades. So it's very good to see that the number of these crimes have fallen sharply and that there were none at all in Scotland last year."
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