Commerce Bank Robbery?

anonymous · January 2007

I walked past Commerce Bank on Sunday afternoon and it was taped off with police everywhere. They told us the bank was robbed. Was anyone on 5th Ave that day?

anonymous · January 2007

I actually walked by soon after it happened. Not sure of the details. I went in to use the ATM and noticed there were cops inside monitoring the door. As I was getting my money someone said the bank had just been robbed. They wouldn't let anyone out of the bank, and when i walked by about an hour later, it appears the still were holding people inside, I guess to take statments.

jamzer · January 2007

That bank has been robbed at least 3 times in the last few weeks. Commerce Bank does not care about the safety of its employees or neighbors. Their business model calls for an open environment which invites robberies. They have made the cost benefit analysis that the increase in robberies pays for itself in increased business from customers who like the open feel of the bank. Unfortunately for those of us who live in the neighborhood, we just have to live with more bank robbers roaming our block. Just this weekend, a woman and child were sent to the hospital from fumes generated by the dye pack that exploded after the latest robbers threw it out of the bag. I pray it does not take someone getting shot before something is done about this.

ppwgal · January 2007

How does the open feel of the bank contribute to more robberies? I would think the opposite would be true sine passerbys would be able to see inside...

anonymous · January 2007

ppwgal wrote: How does the open feel of the bank contribute to more robberies? I would think the opposite would be true sine passerbys would be able to see inside...

It's "open" in the sense that the tellers are just at this big desk, not behind glass like most banks. It's sort of nice, except for the whole easy target thing.

meganlibrarian · January 2007

I walked past there about an hour afterward. Commerce had put up signs saying that they were closed due to an "emergency". I didn't know what that really meant until later that evening, when I looked at the crime map via Gothamist. Interesting stuff.

jamzer · January 2007

They also don't like to hire guards, although the pressure might be on to do so given that the word in the bank robber community is that Commerce Bank is giving money away for free, all you have to do is show them your gun.

friendlypitbull · January 2007

Jamzer I don't know what your issue with Commerce is, but I like the open feel, the extended hours as well as their penny arcade machine - and I'm not going to critisize the VICTIM of a robbery, rather then the
Perpetrator(s) who are the ones who truly dont care about you and your neighbors - a picture of one is in todays Daily News blotter.

Finally, Commerce Bank isnt 'giving' anything away - it is called Bank Robbery and it is a felony in both NY State as well as under Federal Law, and from what I have heard none of these genius robbers have gotten anything since once they stepped outside the 'dye pack' the teller stuck in the $ exploded thereby rendering the proceeds worthless.

Oh and BTW while maybe a more visable guard would help, it might also be that it would/could result in a confrontation which will more likely result in violence and harm to innocent bystanders -

jamzer · January 2007

Pitbull - My issue with Commerce Bank is that they don't care if they get robbed. For your information, Ray Kelly, the police commissioner, blames the bank! In fact, in 2004 he crashed the opening of a Commerce Bank to complain about the fact that they do nothing to stop robbers! http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2004-02-03-bank-robberies_x.htm. Perhaps you should explain the federal law against robbing banks to him since you are such an expert.

Its quite simple. What don't you understand?

friendlypitbull · January 2007

Ray Kelly is an attorney who has worked in Federal Law Enforcement (Customs) so I dont think he needs me to tell him the Federal Criminal statutes, besides I don't see anywhere where Ray Kelly says ".Commerce Bank does not care about the safety of its employees or neighbors." - which is what you said, and which I see no evidence.

Certainly the Police Commissioner (especially in stat driven NYC) has a vested interest in bringing down the # of robberies, but with all do respect to Ray Kelly it isnt the Bank's responsibility to catch criminals. Again, I like the open feel and extended hours of Commerce Bank (which apparently can make them a more inviting target) and it appears to me that Commerce has implemented the 2004 suggesstions of Ray Kelly (except for plexiglass booths for the tellers) - but either way, just like I dont think it is little old ladies faults for being an easy mark for a thug, it is not Commerces 'fault' that members of society take a 'friendly enviroment' as an invitation to steal

jamzer · January 2007

I never said Ray Kelly said those things - I did.

It is Commerce's responsibility to not be an inviting target for criminals. At the Commerce on 5th and 1st they clearly have failed at that job. Just like its my responsibility to lock my door and not leave my keys in my car. If I keep on getting robbed, at some point my neighbors will get annoyed that I don't do more to discourage thiefs. The New York City police commissioner has the same opinion and I happen to think he knows what he is talking about.

anonymous · January 2007

Commerce is at fault for not taking steps to discourage a known danger to the community. They have knowingly made themselves an attractive target. Commerce's indifference to being robbed of money in turn robs the neighborhood of a measure of safety. Would you want to be standing in a Commerce Bank when they are in the middle of being robbed?

meganlibrarian · January 2007

One thing to keep in mind: other banks in the Slope get robbed, too. I recall posting about the Citibank on 7th Ave getting robbed a month or so ago. Bank robberies happen.

homeowner · January 2007

Yeah, but statistically, Commerce Bank branches get robbed more than any other bank in NY (and that's saying alot considering how many banks there are here). That's why Kelly was so aggrivated with them, because they know they have a problem, and they won't take any steps to change.

mypasswordwontwork · January 2007

I just went in there and closed my account with them today. Fuck them!!! I sure as hell don't want to be caught up in some kind of hostage situation during a bank robbery. Hell naw. And its a shame because I found one of the guys who works in there really quite cute and we'd been flirting.

t-fal · January 2007

oh this is just crazy, bank robberies happen. adjust your risk tolerances accordingly, or bank online and deal with the risk of internet hackers.

jamzer · January 2007

Actually what is crazy is being a bank and not doing enough to prevent robberies. Commerce is the worst of all of them - so they are not just any bank. I will say to their credit that it appears as if they have hired an off-duty cop to stand in the lobby. That is a good thing, lets just see how long it lasts.

anonymous · January 2007

In the Park Slope Courier there is an article on the incidents and apparently it was the same person who robbed the bank. They know who it is and are hunting for him.

michaelkeys · January 2007

Anonymous wrote: In the Park Slope Courier there is an article on the incidents and apparently it was the same person who robbed the bank. They know who it is and are hunting for him.

OK, I knew of a guy who held up the same bank twice, but he was high at the time...

Commerce Bank Robbery?

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