FBI wants bank ban on hats, sunglasses

08:35 AM PDT on Friday, September 14, 2007
By ROBERTA ROMERO / KING 5 News

You may not even think about wearing sunglasses and a hat when entering a bank, but the FBI sure is. One local agent wants to make it a new law in Washington state banning that attire.  

Hats and sunglasses are becoming one of the most common disguises for bank robbers.  Many banks, like Washington Mutual, already ask customers to take them off before walking in.  Asking doesn't seem to be working, so instead of bank policy the FBI says there should be a law.  


FBI wants ban on hats, sunglasses, hoodies in banks


Footage of a bank robber who hit two Seattle banks on Wednesday shows a nice view of a hat and not much else.  

"Unfortunately from the camera placement we don't have a face shot.  The cameras are placed way too high and all we see is the top of the construction helmet," said Larry Carr, FBI special agent.  

Bank bandits know they can evade the most elaborate surveillance system with a hat or hood or sunglasses. For instance, when the "nomad bandit" was finally arrested, he told the FBI he knew the cameras would never capture his face because he hid it with a hat.  

"The vast majority of bank disguises, that is their key disguise.  That's their disguise," said Carr.  

Now the FBI will be working with the state legislature to make it illegal to conduct business in banks while wearing a hat, sunglasses or a hood pulled over your head.  

The logic is simple: If you are in a bank and you are hiding your identity, you're probably up to no good.  

"That's quite frightening to the employees, so we need to train ourselves to take that attire off," said Carr.  

Besides the no hats and sunglasses rule, the FBI suggests banks should also consider lowering their cameras to better capture faces. The law would not apply to customers who cover their head for religious or medical reasons.