trend to the rash of layoffs , the plummeting stock market and the bust in the real estate values , all of which have left many Americans in dire financial straits . `` It makes me think that the recession is making people go to extreme measures , '' a woman who frequents one of the banks robbed Monday told The New York Times . Watch where the robbers struck '' But Kelly said it 's not clear whether the bad economic times are fueling the unusual spike . `` People want to say ... it 's because of the economy . I think it 's too early to make that statement , '' he said . CNN security analyst Mike Brooks agreed , adding that although there are typically many bank robberies during the holidays , there are no data to suggest that any recent spike was caused by the economy . Another expert said it 's possible that the difficulty of finding a job right now may be a factor , but he doubted that law-abiding citizens are turning to crime to make ends meet . `` It 's hard to attribute the bank robberies to people who
NEW YORK -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A rash of bank robberies in New York has the city 's police commissioner worried that criminals have turned banks into `` virtual cash machines '' and some wondering whether tough economic times are fueling the trend . A surveillance camera captures a bank robbery suspect in New York on December 2 . On Monday alone , robbers targeted five banks in the Big Apple , some striking in broad daylight and near famous landmarks . Police called the incidents unrelated , but they 're just the latest examples of the growing tally of hold-ups . Bank robberies in New York have risen 54 percent compared with last year , with criminals committing more than 430 in the past 12 months , according to the New York police department . `` As it stands now , they 've turned -LSB- banks -RSB- into virtual cash machines , '' New York Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said . Bank robberies are also up in many areas across the country , including San Diego , California , and Houston , Texas , federal law enforcement experts told CNN . It 's enough for some to link the