Robbery is a violent theft crime in which a perpetrator takes property from someone else by means of force or the threat of such force or by placing the person in fear. It is considered a more serious crime than other theft crimes such as larceny because it involves direct confrontation with the victim. Robbery is classified as a felony in every state and carries a high prison sentence even for first-time offenders.

The FBI maintains the Bank Crime Statistics database but most robberies are handled by local police. Local law enforcement are best positioned to advise banks about preventive strategies and to distinguish between professional and amateur offenders. They also know the characteristics of specific local banks that make them attractive to robbers on foot and in cars.

For example, if a criminal suspects that they might be followed or noticed by witnesses, they will select an escape route. Banks that abut wooded areas, have multiple small streets or railroads nearby, or are located adjacent to other commercial properties are attractive to robbers because they allow offenders to disappear easily or hide their getaway vehicles.

Other important characteristics of a bank robbery include the type of property taken and whether any force was used to take it. For instance, in the case of People v. Martinez, 983 N.Y.S.2d 839 (2014), a New York court held that a simple gesture such as placing the defendant’s hand in his pocket to make the victim believe that he had a gun was sufficient to sustain a conviction of second degree robbery.