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FBI: Chicago-Area Bank Robberies Decrease

CHICAGO (AP) -- FBI statistics show the number of bank robberies in Chicago and the suburbs has fallen significantly for the third year in a row.

Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake and Will counties had 112 bank robberies during 2011. That's down from 181 bank robberies in 2010.

FBI Chicago spokesman Ross Rice tells The Daily Herald that's "a significant decrease." He attributes the fall to media attention and says about 70 percent of bank robberies are solved.

Rice also credits advanced technology. He says more banks have high-end security cameras that like give "almost portrait-like images of the robbers."

Rice says robbers usually get a few hundred dollars, but can face up to two decades in prison.

(© Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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