"Security" in my bank branch.

[Superhouse 15]

I went into my local BOA branch yesterday to pick up a money order and found that they had put in bullet resistant glass from the top of the teller counters to the ceiling. It's not in the bad part of town, but it's just down the street and on a major roadway. I was kind of surprised to see it, and it occured to me that if I was a robber coming in I would have turned around and walked out. It was just over an inch thick and in good solid mounts.

Then I talked to the teller.

I made a fishbowl joke and talked to her briefly. During the conversation it came up that the coutertops were just fancy countertops made of wood. While you could not shoot through the glass or jump over the counter, there would be nothing stopping you (if you were a murderous criminal) from firing through the plywood. Probably only goes up to the drop ceiling, too.

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[retsupt99]

I'm less than a couple of hours away from your branch, and I haven't seen any of that here yet.

[TerriLi]

I have a local branch that has that too....it took them a year to put something more behind the counter.

[CopperKnight]

... and it was cool of her to tell you that.

Sometimes "training" is a better security investment than glass.

[Chevyguy85]

they still have banks w/o the glass? can't remember the last time i've seen one w/o them. and yeah how nice of her to tell you the security set up

[dukalmighty]

I've seen how well those work on some cop shows on TV,the robbers just go up thru the drop ceiling and go thru to the tellers side,no bullet proof glass between them anymore,unless it goes all the way to the roof it's just a slight deterrent to a dedicated crook

[Superhouse 15]

I kind of always deal with this teller, I'm sure she knows I'm not a robber as much as I've been there. Actually, I think she hadn't thought of it before we started mentioning it by the look on her face.

And actually, the branch that I consider more "at risk" due to it's location doesn't have the glass at all.

[automatic slim]

While so called bulletproof glass will stop most handgun rounds, it's pitifully ineffective against slugs or rifle rounds.

[Superhouse 15]

Stopped 5.56, 7.62x39 and .308, although the 12ga slug got through, the glass was already cracked and compromised. I guessed the glass in question was about 1 1/4" thick. It's all cast in one piece as far as I can tell.

The Box O' Truth #6 - Ballistic Resistant Glass Gets Tested - Page 1

[mikeprekopa]

Nothing is fool-proof to a talented fool... so goes for criminals too. None of the banks around here have glass, at least none I have gone to.

[Rugergirl]

Nothing is fool-proof to a talented fool... so goes for criminals too. None of the banks around here have glass, at least none I have gone to.

I like the bolded part. You mind if I "borrow" that one?

[P7fanatic]

they still have banks w/o the glass? can't remember the last time i've seen one w/o them. and yeah how nice of her to tell you the security set up

Hey Chevyguy, not everybody lives in Orlando. Or places like Orlando.

[Rangemaster]

Well you successfully social engineered that teller into telling you the weaknesses of the bank's security. Perhaps you should try to get her computer login next ;)

[Chevyguy85]

Hey Chevyguy, not everybody lives in Orlando. Or places like Orlando.

yeah i know. i've been to banks in quite a few other states/cities as well and can't recall them not having glass. there were a lot of banks when i went to italy that iddn't have glass in front of the tellers but then again you had to enter the bank 1 @ a time via rotating doors that only opened one way @ a time...that and there was at least some type of office w/ a pistol if not a sub machine gun :-p

[Ram Rod]

Most banks I know of around here would rather invest in cameras, fancy lighting, and popcorn machines than any types of security measures.