THE FEDERAL BANK ROBBERY STATUTE WAS ENACTED IN 1934. BANK ROBBERIES HAVE EXHIBITED A STEADY INCREASE SINCE 1950. MORE RECENT FIGURES ON BANK VIOLATIONS RANGED FROM 3,164 OFFENSES IN 1972 TO 4,566 OFFENSES IN 1976. FACTORS AFFECTING THE NUMBER OF BANK ROBBERIES ARE ECONOMIC PROBLEMS, THE USE OF NARCOTICS, THE LARGE NUMBER OF BANK BRANCHES ADJACENT TO HIGHWAYS AND FREEWAYS, PHYSICAL DESIGN AIMED AT ATTRACTIVENESS AS OPPOSED TO SECURITY, EXTENDED BUSINESS HOURS, CRIMINAL RECIDIVISM, AND THE FAILURE OF SOME FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS TO TAKE ADEQUATE PHYSICAL SECURITY PRECAUTIONS. MANY BANK ROBBERS ARE AMATEURS, INDIVIDUALS WITH NO PRIOR CRIMINAL RECORD. ALONG WITH THE RISE OF THE AMATEUR BANK ROBBER HAS BEEN A DECLINE IN THE OPERATION OF GANGS. ADVANCE PLANNING TO PREVENT ROBBERY MUST TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE RANDOMNESS OF BANK SELECTION BY ROBBERS, PATROL PLANNING BY ROBBERS, AND PROFESSIONAL PLANNING BY ROBBERS. PERSONS OF ALL AGES ROB BANKS, AND THE MAJORITY ARE MEN. SIGNIFICANT PARAMETERS IN THE MODUS OPERANDI OF BANK ROBBERS ARE TIME OF DAY, ACTION INSIDE A BANK, DISGUISES, CARRYING STOLEN MONEY, THE USE OF WEAPONS AND THE ROLE OF VIOLENCE, THE HANDLING OF CUSTOMERS AND EMPLOYEES, INDIVIDUAL OPERATOR VERSUS GANG OPERATIONS, AND GETAWAYS. PROTECTIVE DEVICES IN BANKS REPRESENT ONE OF THE MOST POTENT WEAPONS AGAINST ROBBERS. IN RESPONSE TO THE INCREASE IN BANK ROBBERIES AND RELATED CRIMINAL ATTACKS AGAINST FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, THE BANK PROTECTION ACT WAS ENACTED IN 1968. EACH FEDERALLY INSURED FINANCIAL INSTITUTION IS REQUIRED BY THE ACT TO DESIGNATE A SECURITY OFFICER AND PROVIDE FOR THE ILLUMINATION OF VAULTS, THE INSTALLATION OF TAMPER-RESISTANT LOCKS ON EXTERIOR DOORS AND WINDOWS AND THE INSTALLATION OF AN ALARM SYSTEM OR OTHER APPROPRIATE DEVICE TO NOTIFY POLICE OF A ROBBERY OR BURGLARY. IN ADDITION, EACH INSTITUTION MUST CONSIDER THE APPROPRIATENESS OF OF VARIOUS SECURITY DEVICES AND ESTABLISH A WRITTEN SECURITY PROGRAM. THE FBI CONSIDERS BANK ROBBERY A PRIORITY AREA. DURING THE 12-MONTH PERIOD ENDING JUNE 30, 1976, THE AGENCY'S COMMITMENT TO INVESTIGATING BANK ROBBERIES, BURGLARIES, AND LARCENIES TOTALED 651 MAN-YEARS. IN TERMS OF DOLLARS, THIS REPRESENTED AN EXPENDITURE OF OVER $17 MILLION. (DEP)