Bank heists dip to 10-year low in North Carolina

RALEIGH, NC (AP) — A new report says there have been fewer bank robberies in North Carolina this year than at any time in at least a decade.

Multiple media outlets reported that the North Carolina Bankers Association released the figures Monday.

So far, there have been 97 bank robberies in 2010. That’s down from 317 in 2000.

Raleigh has the most this year, with 18. But Raleigh police spokesman Jim Sughrue says 11 of those were the work of three men who have been arrested.

Charlotte had the second highest robbery total with 12, followed by Durham, which has seen 10 bank robberies.

Bankers association vice president Ed Aycock says that despite the drop in robberies, customers and bank employees should remain vigilant.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)