Robbing Banks: An American History, 1831-1999

by L.R. Kirchner

The establishment of banks in the land of "free enterprise" gave rise to a parallel profession that has always fascinated the public: the bank robber. A dangerous undertaking in any era, the world of bank robbing includes venal brutes, nefarious artists, cool daredevils, and just plain idiots doing anything to get to that free money. Robbing Banks, which covers heists from 1831 to the present day, depicts the history of bank robbing in all of its colorful-and occasionally grim-variety.America came to the forefront of world bank-robbing history because of its Wild West, where Jesse James and his gang of ex-Rebels became legends in their own time. The golden era of bank robbing occurred during the Great Depression, producing folk heroes such as "Pretty Boy" Floyd and Bonnie and Clyde. Meanwhile, gentlemen like Willie Sutton and Herman "the Baron" Lamm plied their trade with a degree of class that is remarkable for a criminal in any time period.Sprinkled between the legends are the failures, such as the Texas teenager who chose to rob his first bank just when the county sheriff's office had received its weekly payroll. A few lazy desperados have even attempted hold-ups at drive-through windows. Robbing Banks is a fascinating look at a criminal profession which, like the banking industry itself, has evolved with the times to meet every new challenge that has come along.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, American History, True Crime

235 pages, Hardcover

First published October 15, 2000

Reviews

[Dory Ford · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun read about a topic I find fascinating. My major gripe with this book is how often Kirchner comes off as judgemental calling people "losers" "idiots" judging sex workers and drug addicts alike needlessly when it's clear many (not all to be clear) of them had a troubled childhood that helped lead to those choices. Overall though, I enjoyed reading this, I've heard there are inaccuracies but nothing major from what I've seen so that doesn't really bother me.

[Randy A · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am an avid history buff, so learning the facts behind all the great robberies was extremely interesting

[Ralph · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author starts out by noting the place the bank robber has earned in American social mythology, from which is derived a sort of grudging admiration, even though we know that what they do is wrong and that they are far from being the Robin Hoods of folklore. This is not an isolated case of misplaced admiration; not long ago I read and reviewed a book about train robbers and that author, too, began with the place of the trainer robber in American folklore. I suppose if we wanted to come up with a "triple crown" of bad boys that we should loathe but can't quite do wholeheartedly, we could add the jewel thief or the flim-flam man, both of which have become American icons.

Kirchner's acknowledgement of the mythical bank robber, however, is brief, the merest tip of the hat, for he immediately plunges into the history of bank robbing, using case after case to illustrate not only why they are evil vermin and should never be paroled (they will rob again and again) but why the worst of them are among the most stupid people ever to walk the face of the Earth.

Each chapter covers a specific aspect in the history of bank robbing starting, appropriately enough, at the beginning, when the confluence of history, commerce and expansion created a network of banks filled with gold and silver just asking to be stolen. The first bank robberies were more in the nature of burglaries, and many of the most famous bank robbers started out as burglars who worked their way up, or, having been tossed into the pokey for burglary, were schooled in the art of bank robbing by more experienced (sadder and wiser) convicts...at least they were learning a trade.

The history of bank robbing is also a history of technology and the development of the security industry. The chapter about how banks fought back against the rise of the bank robber details the transformation of the bank from a rickety wood-frame building to a carpet-and-plastic fortress, and the safe from an easily transported strongbox to an gleaming explosive-proof reinforced vault. It also tells about bank alarms, surveillance systems, marked money, exploding dye-packs (I know from experience those work very well), telephone and radio systems, and changes in transportation.

Kirchner also looks at the cases of the most famous robbers, going behind the glamour and myth to show not only how pathetic many of them were (Bonnie & Clyde were nothing like the film), but how all of them were ultimately losers, no matter how well they planned their crimes or how many they pulled successfully before being taken down, either with handcuffs or a bullet. Most of them spent very little of their ill-gotten gains. The Left-Handed Bandit (as he was named by the FBI) was shot dead with $90,000 in a bank bag in his hand, but the $10,000,000 he squirreled away from his other jobs is likely still where he hid it. Robbers forced to fence/launder their money usually only get a quarter on the dollar, a high price for all the risk involved.

In addition to the best (probably the James Gang) and the most famous (I think Bonnie & Clyde may be tied with Patty Hearst), Kirchner also details the exploits of the worst and most inept. There was the fellow who walked into a bank and demanded all their tens, twenties and thirties...no, he did not last long. And the fellow who tried to flee on a city bus did not get far, nor did the trio of robbers who ran out of the bank to find their getaway car being towed from a No Parking zone. The guy who ran down the street leaving a trail of purple bank dye was not hard to track down; nor was the robber who wrote his robbery note on the back of his electric bill, nor, for that matter, was the soldier who robbed the bank outside the Army post while wearing his uniform fatigues...which had his unit and name clearly marked on them.

Student of history or crime, you will enjoy this well researched, clearly written and logically laid out examination of an American tradition that, unfortunately, seems to be in no danger of becoming extinct. Even in this age of plastic money, checks and near-worthless currency, there is always someone who thinks he can successfully pull off The Heist. As Kirchner points out several times throughout his book, the bank robber is betting he will win every time; the authorities, on the other hand, only have to win once. Bang, you're dead.

[Frederick Bingham · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book about robbing banks. It gives a history of bank robbery, including descriptions of the exploits of Jesse and Frank James, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Bonnie and Clyde, Pretty Boy Floyd, John Dillinger, Willie Sutton, and more modern bank robbers. He shares stories of some of the less intelligent robbers of the past and it discusses the history of different techniques of robbing banks. The author for some reason has decided to make this his area of expertise. At the end there is an extensive bibliography and list of films about bank robbery. Worth reading.

[Walt · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book amounts to little more than a recital of bank robberies and bank bandits. There is little analysis or discussion about the robbers or their eras.