During the first eleven months of 2011, 15 bank robberies were reported nationwide, compared with 29 in 2010. This represents the lowest number for nearly 30 years, according to the national crime statistics office.
In 2009, 46 armed robberies were reported, which also represented a considerable decrease from 110 the year before.
“We have not seen numbers this low since the 1980s,” said Detective Inspector Björn Ek at the National Bureau of Investigation (Rikskriminalpolisen), to TT.
The number of robberies of security vans has also decreased this year; 14 have taken place up till the end of November, compared with a total of 38 in total last year.
Meanwhile it was a similar case with shop robberies, according to Ek, but the decline in numbers here was less sharp.
The reduction in the the number of robberies can apparently be explained in part by by long-term prevention methods, particularly with more visible policing, as well as better cooperation between the police, banks and investment companies.
Another reason for the decline, according to the police is that many people caught and convicted of serious robberies are now in prison.
“We are obviously very pleased, as we have been working actively on a long-term plan to reduce the number of serious robberies,” said Ek.
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