Many FBI databases and resources assist investigations. It can be hard to keep track of them and easy to overlook helpful tools that make casework more efficient. One of these tools is the Bank Robbery Note File (BRNF), managed by forensic examiners in the Questioned Documents Unit (QDU) at the FBI Laboratory in Quantico, Virginia.

If a criminal robs banks in two different locations, the investigators in the new jurisdiction may not have been aware of the previous crime(s). Once associated, the information from the previous bank robbery(s) will be shared with the new investigators, and they may be able to develop a suspect more quickly.

An example of an association is shown in figures 1 through 3. These demand notes were submitted to the QDU by the FBI’s Chicago office in 2011 and 2016. Even though five years had passed between the first and second submission, the perpetrator used consistent phrasing in all three: “I have a gun,” “all the money,” and “hostage situation.” An association occurred despite a different style of writing among the notes, a limitation that normally precludes a handwriting comparison.

Figure 1: Demand note from FBI Chicago in 2011

Figure 3: Demand note from FBI Chicago in 2016

Benefits

By searching and associating cases in the BRNF, investigators can collaborate and share case information, such as potential or past suspects, with other investigators across multiple jurisdictions throughout the United States. This creates more efficient investigative timelines and can help stop serial bank robbers before they continue their spree or become violent.

Started in 1962, the BRNF was first manually searched through a physical file containing photographs of demand notes. In 1978, the database was automated, and the turnaround time for its searches dramatically decreased. Today, the current processing time for a demand note to be searched and added to the BRNF is approximately two weeks. With cases that involve additional questioned document or forensic examinations, the turnaround time depends on the current caseload. For exigent circumstances, such as a particularly violent serial bank robber or upcoming trial dates or deadlines, the QDU can expedite the case.

As more demand notes are entered into the BRNF, the tool becomes more powerful. Therefore, it is essential for all law enforcement entities to submit as many notes as possible to the FBI Laboratory.

For a demand note to be included and searched in the BRNF, an agency can send in the original, a copy, or a digital image of the note. An original note allows for a forensic examination that may glean other probative information, such as indented writing or latent fingerprints. If a state or local laboratory is conducting forensic examinations on the demand note, just the image of the demand note can be submitted for BRNF inclusion and search.

Conclusion

The BRNF is a valuable tool that can be utilized to associate bank robbery demand notes from various time periods and geographic locations to obtain and/or share possible lead information. Adding more notes to the database makes it a much more powerful resource. Any law enforcement agency can submit a demand note to the FBI Laboratory for it to be searched and entered into the BRNF — the results could be surprising and worthwhile.