Denver banks in the area of East Seventh Avenue and Colorado Boulevard were robbed eight times in the past three years, but the FBI says the area is not being targeted by thieves for any particular reason.
The first five robberies occurred in 2009 and were committed by a serial robber dubbed the $83 Bandit for the amounts of money he wrote on his demand notes.
The $83 Bandit, Frank Lewis, was living in a nearby motel and picked banks near that well-traveled intersection because they were within walking distance, according to the FBI.
Lewis was sentenced Jan. 26 to 120 months in federal prison.
Since Lewis’ arrest in 2010, two more banks were robbed in the area by a takeover crew that participated in several heists throughout the metro area.
The FBI is trying to find the latest thief, who robbed U.S. Bank at 730 Colorado Blvd. on Tuesday. Investigators believe the robbery may be the criminal’s first one.
FBI spokesman Dave Joly said there is no reason to believe the neighborhood is more attractive to bank robbers than any other place even though it is situated along three thoroughfares that can take robbers any direction.
There have been 499 bank robberies committed in the metro area since 2007, and only eight have been near that intersection, five of them by one suspect, he said.
The FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force investigates all robberies and works with banking employees to prevent future crimes and implement security measures.
Robberies tend to spike in November, December and January, and that may be because it’s easier for thieves to get away with wearing heavier clothing to conceal their identities in the winter, said Jennifer Waller, senior vice president of the Colorado Bankers Association.
While bank officials won’t discuss prevention methods publicly, they say surveillance inside and around banks has increased and it’s nearly impossible for a thief to escape a camera.
“Employees are continually trained in robbery preparedness to ensure they are able to handle their situation and ensure their safety,” Waller said.
Felisa Cardona: 303-954-1219 or fcardona@denverpost.com
