Wisconsin bankers fighting hold ups

WISCONSIN - The summer blockbuster, crowding theaters and captivating fans, could also hold a lesson.

"Lot of action, couple of real good shoot out scenes," a fan said of Public Enemies which opened Wednesday.

But, the Wisconsin Bankers Association says the robber on the silver screen is no hero. The association says John Dillinger was a dangerous criminal, similar to those tellers see today.

"If you're not in the situation, if you're not working with a bank you don't realize the risks and the dangers that can be there," Winnie McPeake with Citizens Bank said.

After more than 20 years in banking, McPeake has had nervous moments but says she feels safe in Appleton. The Association wants to make her safer. It's kicking off a new campaign designed to decrease bank hold-ups.

"They're still going and we're seeing more than we have in recent years since the economy has taken a downward turn," WBA spokesperson Jason Busch said.

In 2008, Busch says there were 1,617 bank robberies nationally, 98 in the state of Wisconsin and 25 in Milwaukee.

The association says the program is completely voluntary, but patrons may be asked to remove their hat, hood or sunglasses at participating banks. The goal? To make robbers more easy to identify.

"I think it's great, it's a great idea," McPeake said.

But, will it work? Busch says similar efforts have made an impact in Massachusetts and Missouri. He feels the program will also work here, because while robbers like John Dillinger made for a dramatic entrance, todays thieves often demand money with a note.

"That's the type of person who doesn't really want to draw attention to themselves," Busch said. "They want to get in and out and not be recognized."

He says a simple greeting, or feeling they're under watch could force would-be-robbers to think again. Busch says customers who don't remove sunglasses or hoods will still be served, but watched more closely.

The Wisconsin Bankers Association also says it has a robbery reward fund. The association is offering up to $5,000 for tips and information that lead to robbery arrests and convictions.