History of Bank Robbery

The first bank robbery in the United States occurred in Philadelphia in 1798.
By the mid-19th century, bank robbers in urban areas became more and more
sophisticated, cracking safes with precision tools and sometimes resorting to
explosives. In rural areas, bank robbery was more violent; gangs like the James
Brothers simply entered the bank, forced the tellers and customers to turn over
their money at gunpoint, and fled. Presented by Wilbur Miller, Professor of
History at Stony Brook University, this history of bank robbery will highlight
famous robbers and efforts to bring them to justice.