NCJ Number
78618
Journal
Kriminalist Volume: 12 Issue: 11 Dated: (November 1980) Pages: 446-448,450-451
Date Published
1980
Length
5 pages
Annotation
Strategies of West German terrorists who rob banks to finance their activities are illustrated with examples of such robberies from the 1970's.
Abstract
In the 1970's more than 50 bank robberies were attributed to terrorists, without inclusion of a sizable dark figure. Terrorist bank robbers have been highly successful because of a number of features that differentiate them from ordinary bank robbers. As a rule, terrorists plan their robberies in every detail, using several vehicles and the most advanced technology and weapons. They possess extraordinary energy and are willing to target even the best-protected banks if the gains promise to be great. Their fearful appearance and determination tends to intimidate bank employees and to cause panic. Women terrorists have proved particularly eager to use their weapons during robberies. As the examples show, terrorist bank robbers usually wear masks or disguises so that they cannot be identified later. Their escape vehicles are often stolen or purchased with forged papers. The terrorists' lack of fear in perpetrating the robberies results from their fanatical adherence to a set of radical convictions about their role as freedom fighters in modern society. In general, women terrorists have been responsible for obtaining vehicles and illegal papers and have proved more difficult to identify than male terrorists. Although the number of bank robberies by terrorists dropped considerably after 1977, the increased activity of women terrorists and the growing violence of terrorists in other areas make renewed robberies appear likely.