Bank thefts fall sharply

Karen Zekan

Thursday, April 17, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

Bank robberies in Las Vegas have plummeted this year compared with last, and Metro Police are attributing this in part to the absence of a select group of thieves: repeat customers.

Only 10 financial institutions in Clark County have been robbed thus far in 1997. Last year at this time, there had already been 49 robberies.

Recent year-end totals also saw an upswing, with 120 tallied in 1995 rising to 141 banks hit in 1996.

How 1997 will compare by year's end, no one knows. But one statistical element is keeping this year's totals down.

"Last year, we had three, four, five groups of series bank robberies," said Sgt. Jeff Carlson of Metro's robbery detail. "They did 10 to 16 banks before they got caught. They would hit every other day, once a week ... the numbers rose dramatically."

The repeaters, he said, often have narcotics or gambling problems and need money every few days.

FBI statistics show that eight individuals now in custody were responsible for 48 robberies in 1996, said Special Agent Debbie Calhoun.

This year, all 10 robberies have been committed by individuals who do not appear to be connected to other holdups, based on witness descriptions. Only one so far is in custody.

Whether they had accomplices waiting, say, in a getaway car outside or as a lookout for police is hard to determine because witnesses are often oblivious.

"They (suspects) usually give a note, say 'don't move, I've got a gun' or something, and no one else really knows what's going on, unless you hear a teller scream or something," Carlson said. "By the time (the customers and other tellers) know, the guy's out the door."

October, November and December tend to see the biggest robbery totals in Las Vegas, and Carlson says one spring day is almost always a constant in their books: April 15.

"Around the holidays, people need money, and they also need money on tax day," he said.

Two banks were hit on April 15 last year, and, interestingly, one was hit Tuesday. That tax bandit remains at large.

The robber entered the U.S. bank at 3681 S. Maryland Parkway about 1 p.m., handed the teller a note announcing the robbery, grabbed an undisclosed amount of cash and fled out the bank's north doors.

Police are asking for the public's help in finding the thief, described as a white male in his late 30s or early 40s, 5 feet 10 and 210 pounds, with dark brown hair and a mustache. He was last seen wearing a gray short-sleeved T-shirt with "Idaho" written on the front.

Information on the man's whereabouts can be relayed to the robbery detail at 229-3591, the FBI at 385-1281 or Secret Witness at 385-5555.