FBI statistics have revealed that the number of women committing bank robberies is quickly growing. The FBI released statistics that indicate that 6.2% of recent bank heists were committed by women. The statistic represents a 25% increase as compared to crimes of 2002 recorded at 4.9%. Although males remain the top perpetrators of bank heists (over 95% until the year 2008) the rise clearly represents an upward trend. Reasons behind the criminal activity are attributed by media sources to financial necessity, in contrast to previously released statistics that show that men typically have engaged in financial crimes for reasons of gaining thrills or fulfilling addictions that require funds to maintain. In addition, media sources have indicated that the women engaged in crimes tend to be better planners in their efforts.

Some crime experts foresee that this trend, as well as all crime associated with financial necessity will rise in the near future as the economic crisis takes its toll on citizens of the U.S. of all races and economic groups.

White-collar Crime Increase

The FBI also reports that even as the rate of murder, robbery, assault and other types of violent and property crimes has declined or plateaued, white-collar crime has steadily been increasing. White-collar crimes include the categories of: health care fraud, bank fraud, government contract fraud, and telemarketing fraud. These cases range from telemarketers who defraud unsuspecting victims out of their savings, to doctors who submit fake claims for Medicare and Medicaid.

Like crimes of financial necessity, white-collar crimes will almost certainly rise as the global economy continues to struggle. The greatest increase— up 50%— among the top ten white-collar charges was convictions for Title 18 U.S.C Section 641 that involves “public money, property or records”. Because not all frauds are detected, it is difficult to understand exactly to what degree instances of fraud are increasing, and to what degree enforcement level is increasing.

Police Alerts and Analysis

Many city and local police departments report that they are on alert and planning for an increase in economic crimes driven by the financial crisis.  In many cases, rising unemployment causes crimes of necessity, including theft and burglary. Officials, after studying crime patterns from the previous downturns for analysis, noted that crimes of this type has tilted upwards since the previous 1990 to 1991 recession. Property crime jumped sharply, and officials are attempting to pinpoint the types of offenses expected to rise as the financial crisis deepens. In various counties across the country, officials have been tracking crimes over the past six months and have found offenses such as theft of valuables from automobiles, home break-ins, crimes committed on public streets such as handbag and wallet theft, and other types of theft have begun to rise, as they did in 1990.
All in all, the motives for the crimes boil down to one simple reason:  people in severe need are seeking alternative means of getting money and are willing to take extreme risks to obtain it.

The criminal’s idea of their own bailout?

As the disadvantaged and unemployed– particularly individuals who have lost their homes due to the mortgage crisis– try to cope, one wonders if committing a crime of necessity justifies the situation– especially while the media is bursting with reports of bank and insurance company bailouts and further misuse of funds by top executives.  Media analysts have written frequently about the mindset of individuals who are not typically criminal-minded but who are forced into situations deemed hopeless with no readily available solutions to pursue.  As a result, they take on the mindset of “survival at any means”.  Ever-present in their thoughts, though, are news reports of corporate officials, and high profile companies that are receiving bailouts using tax payer money.

Myth theory?

The theory that the economic conditions and downward financial trend of cities and states across the country have a direct effect on crime has long been debated. Some analysts point to history to demonstrate the widely held belief as myth. During the Great Depression, when under the theory crime should have skyrocketed, crime rates remained low. In other economic boom times crimes rose nearly 15% between 1957 and 1958, according to The Heritage Foundation, a public policy research institute.