Banks Urged To Disallow Caps, Glasses

[The Straight Story]

Banks Urged To Disallow Caps, Glasses

SARASOTA, Fla. -- Responding to a more than one-third hike in bank robbery, the Florida Bankers Association is urging its members to adopt new rules.

Not additional guards or cameras, but a dress code for customers.

The group rolled out a "No Hats, No Hoods, No Sunglasses" program, which includes lobby signs asking customers to remove those items before approaching a teller.

Those who refuse would be directed to an area with more security or a more experienced teller.

"Bankers aren't just going to hope robbers won't come," FBA president Alex Sanchez said. "The 'No Hats' program is one more layer of protection for banks, employees and bank customers."

http://www.local6.com/news/15092336/detail.html

[mcscajun]

1. There's been some talk of this in NJ as well. We had the "Mad Hatter"

hitting a large number of banks (18+) over the course of last summer. He wore a different cap/hat every time. The hats made it very difficult to get good images of him on the security cameras.
Federal/State/Local dragnet finally got him, though.

[HockeyMom]

2. No sunglasses in Florida?

That should go over real big. They might as well say they are baning shorts.

[madeline_con]

4. Not inside the bank. This is not too much to ask. n/t

[Gormy Cuss]

7. It's not too much to ask. It's too much to treat everyone who declines as a suspect.

If a bank had signs asking for my cooperation in keeping down robberies I'd be inclined to oblige. If they sent me off to extra screening because I wanted to keep my hat on I'd close all of my accounts that same day.

[madeline_con]

10. It's hats and glasses, not a strip search.

Maybe your new bank would have the same policy.

Knowing they will be scrutinized more closely would deter a lot of would-be robbers. I can't say it makes convenience store clerks any safer, though. :(

Edited to add:

Hubby was asked to remove his cap on a recent trip to the bank. He did, without a lot of noise or indignation.

[Gormy Cuss]

12. Hiring security guards would be a better approach.

This is just baloney wrapped up as security. My new bank wouldn't have this procedure because I would screen for it. When consumers balk at overreaching policies, smart businesses respond.

on edit: "it's not a strip search" is not a good enough reason to go along with it.

[madeline_con]

15. The security guard would ask you

to remove the hat, hoodie or glasses.

God forbid we show our face at the bank! A police state. Horrors!

[Gormy Cuss]

19. You can put up with all the ridiculous faux security if you choose.

God forbid we would have the presumption to be let alone.

on edit: I never mentioned a police state, because I try to avoid histrionics. I just dislike it when businesses impose such measures with the presumption that everyone is a suspect. I dislike it even more when they frame it as something that customers should accept without question. I have and will again change banks if necessary to avoid such practices and I make it clear why I'm doing so.

[VP505]

22. The strip search

will be the next step after they get people comfortable with the no hat and glasses program.

[HockeyMom]

23. Prescription sunglasses

If I am going indoors for just a few minutes, I keep them on rather than go fishing inside my purse to find my regular glasses.

I have to wear something or I will not be able to see.

Did they ever consider this?

[mcscajun]

9. I wear sunglasses all the time, but I do take them off when I go inside

even into the supermarket. They work a lot better that way. :D

[Manifestor_of_Light]

16. I can't see the teller or the deposit slip when I take my shades off!!

I have prescription shades and live in the South where the SUN is blazing.

They are a necessity for driving.

I'll have to get to the teller, take my prescription shades off, find my indoor prescription glasses so I can see more than four inches past my nose, change them out, and then do my business with the teller.

I guess they think shades are only for decoration, huh?

[mcscajun]

21. I sympathize. Until the last year or so, I didn't have to wear any glasses

for seeing or reading. Now I have to wear reading glasses for computing, shopping, reading labels, whatever. So, I have to make the same change and then, of course, change back for the trip out.
Annoying as hell, but whatcha gonna do? :shrug:

Even if I could afford it, I can't get those lenses that change in light, 'cause I don't need glasses for walking and driving, just reading.

[madeline_con]

3. How is a more experienced teller going to prevent a robbery? n/t

[mcscajun]

5. Most bank robberies aren't armed events...

...they're done by "note passers" who say in the note that they have a gun, but more than likely don't. Yet, you never know, so there are rules and procedures for handling robbery attempts. More experienced tellers know how to handle these; newbie tellers frequently give away the store, or panic and potentially endanger others (*if there is indeed a weapon involved*).

In my former life, I worked in branches involved in both such events and, of course, heard of lots more within the corporation.

[hlthe2b]

6. crap.... baseball hats are my weekend (bad hair) staple

I'd certainly hate that...

[mcscajun]

8. That's what drive-thrus and ATMs are for.

:D

I couldn't tell you when the last time was I actually went INside a branch.

[hlthe2b]

11. No, I usually rely on ATMs, except when I need a larger transaction

I just hope it doesn't eventually extend to the post office---definitely they NEVER see me except in my full Saturday morning sloppiest attire.

[KamaAina]

13. And people who are blind are supposed to...

c'mon, help me out here!

[Generic Brad]

14. But we need our disguises to protect ourselves from identity theft!

First they made me remove the clown makeup. Next it was the prosthetic masks.

All I had left were the hats, hoods, and sunglasses and now damned if those aren't gone too.

[Kat45]

17. We've had those signs in banks here for quite a while n/t

[951-Riverside]

18. Well I guess its back to wigs, facial hair, burkas, reading glasses and oh....

The trusty ak-47 and ski mask.

[Guaranteed]

20. Ski masks OK, though. nt