January 6, 2009

State bank robbery statistics were released by the FBI Monday afternoon, and Washington had a decline in the total number of robberies, agents said.It was the second year that robberies declined statewide, FBI spokeswoman Robbie Burroughs said.

During 2008, there were 153 bank robberies and one bank burglary statewide. That cost the state banking industry a total of $743, 160, according to the FBI.There were assaults in only two of the robberies, but no serious injuries were reported. A firearm was identified in 19 of the 153 Washington cases.