Police also note that 1987 is producing an increase in the number of hold-ups, the first rise since 1983, which was a peak year for hold-ups io this State.

The walls of the hold-up squad’s office are covered with photographs of robberies, taken by bank cameras.

Several faces appear more than once. One thief, photographed twice within a month, shows signs of physical deterioration, probably as a result of drug addiction.

Sunglasses and balaclavas are well featured, but a surprising number of robbers make no attempt at disguise.

Many bank robbers commit multiple offences. After two arrests made by the Armed Hold-Up Squad this year, one man was charged with 23 bank robberies and another with 16 offences at TABs.

Says Inspector Parsons: “I don’t talk about the crime clear-up rate because I think the figures are misleading. We may apprehend a fellow and charge him with six robberies. There may be several more which we are sure he committed but haven’t the evidence to prove it. So, those others have effectively been cleared up, although there was no charge.”

It is not only police who are working overtime on bank robberies. The banks themselves are continually updating and revising security methods to prevent, or deter, offenders.

Few banks will divulge details for fear of helping potential robbers. Mr Noel Fay, security manager at the Commonwealth Bank, said: “If we advertise our security methods, then the bandit would know what he has to overcome.”

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The security manager at Westpac, Mr Claude Thomson, admitted the bank had spent nearly $50 million on security last year and said the system was “better now than it has ever been”.

The obvious, and well-known, security measures at banks include cameras, pop-up steel screens, bullet-resistant glass between customer and teller and silent alarms. But there is now the possibility of introducing higher-technology systems.