Fort Wayne Bank Robberies On The Rise

It's become a familiar scene for the Fort Wayne Police Department.

"You see your criminals; your robbers try and seek out a bank for specific reasons" says Fort Wayne Officer Raquel Foster.

The number of local bank robberies has soared this year. It's more than double last year's amount. So what's behind the increase? The economy may be part of it, but Foster says the more likely reason is that robbers are simply getting good at what they do.

"History has shown that when you see a robbery and see successful robberies, we will see repeated incidences. Often you're dealing with career criminals" she says.

The latest Fort Wayne bank robbery happened this morning at the Chase Bank on East State Street inside Georgetown Square. Police say a man threatened the teller, demanded cash, and then fled on foot. No one was hurt.

"They're individuals that this is what they do. They will rob a financial institution and then they perfect their method as they go along" says Foster.

Out of the twelve bank robberies this year, Foster says only three have been solved. She says the reward for robbers far outweighs the risk.

"Bank robberies typically have a low solvability rate, primarily because there's very little evidence to process inside" she says.

And with the holiday season upon us, Fort Wayne police anticipate the number of bank robberies will continue to rise through the end of the year.

Police are asking the public for help in finding the man who robbed the Chase Bank today.



He's described as a black man. He was last seen wearing a black ball cap, and a black hooded jacket.

If you have any information, you're asked to call police or CrimeStoppers at 260-436-STOP.