Final answer:
The traditional method of bank robbery involved physically stealing currency, but most money now exists as electronic records, leading to cybercrime methods. Police use witness accounts, security footage, and forensic evidence to identify criminals. Banking's move to the digital realm has changed the landscape of how bank robberies are committed and investigated.
Step-by-step explanation:
The most common method of a bank robbery has historically involved the physical act of entering a bank with the intent to steal currency. This perception, popularized by figures such as Willie Sutton who purportedly robbed banks 'because that's where the money is,' has shifted in modern times. Nowadays, with the digitalization of banking, the majority of money exists not as physical currency but as electronic records on computers. Thus, bank robbery methods have evolved with technological advancements, including cybercrimes such as hacking into banking systems to illicitly transfer funds.
When a bank robbery occurs, police officers identify criminals often through witness descriptions, security camera footage, and forensic evidence. Descriptions like 'medium height' provide a starting point, but uncertainties remain. In some cases, police work with general information about a suspect's location or use evidence of other associated crimes, such as possession of unlawful weapons, to apprehend suspects.
Banking's intimate connection with the broader economy and the move towards electronic records means that bank robberies can have significant economic implications, beyond the direct impact of the stolen funds.