Letters to the editor

It would appear that in 99% of all bank robberies and attempted bank robberies that I have heard about in recent history, the perpetrator is wearing some combination of a hat, hoody, sunglasses or turned up collar.

My wife and I laugh every time we read about it;  "Guess what he was wearing?"

Why can't the banks require facial visibility as a condition of entry into the bank premises?  If someone enters the bank wearing any of the above, bank staff should be allowed/required to ask them to remove the offending article.

Although done in conjunction with other measures, this is standard practice in places like Costa Rica, Mexico, and Panama.  I'm quite sure that the frequency of robberies would be greatly reduced right here in Kelowna.

I realize some people will suggest that by the time the person has entered the bank, it is too late to sway them from their original plan, but in my retail experience, I have learned that just greeting a customer when they enter an establishment can reduce shoplifting.  It unsettles the person.

Likewise, someone with the intent to rob a bank does not want to attract any attention at least until they have approached the teller.

Just knowing he will be the centre of attention as soon as he has entered and will be asked to remove his hat and sunglasses would make 75% of them decide not to try it.

Pierre Chenier