Desperate Times Call for Desperate Measures

The NYPD has their hands full these days -- according to recent news articles, bank robberies are up 26 percent in New York City from this time last year and authorities are scrambling to find a solution.

Seems that some banks are smarter than others, and the same goes for criminals. Many have installed new camera networks and employed increased security efforts to combat the upswing, and robbers are quickly identifying the easier targets from the more challenging. After making three unsuccessful robbery attemps at three different Chase branches, one thief targeted a TD Bank in Midtown and walked off with $1,000. Indeed, according to Police Commissioner Ray Kelly, "TD Banks are the most vulnerable in the city".

The NYPD is also seeking public assistance in catching a suspected bank robber wanted in connection with seven attempts in the past month. During each incident, the suspect has entered the bank, approached the teller, demanded cash and fled on foot. According to reports, he has attempted robberies at Wachovia, HSBC, Chase, Sovereign and Capital One.

I have a feeling I know where he's headed next.

Grenades, a Bicycle, and the Cover of Darkness

Surveillance tapes will likely provide little help in determining the identity of culprits behind Thursday night's ‘grenade’ attack on the Mexican Consulate building in New York City. In circumstances eerily similar to a 2005 incident at the British Consulate, novelty grenades filled with explosives were thrown through windows at approximately 3:30AM. Thankfully, no one was hurt.

The detonation blew out several windows and sent debris flying into the building, located in the Murray Hill section at 27 E. 39th Street between Madison and Park avenues. […] Ramon Xilotl, Mexico's Consul General, tells CBS 2 that the early morning attack, which left explosive fragments on the sidewalk, broke three windows and was captured on surveillance video. "They showed the explosives but nobody is seen in the camera. But there is a witness that saw the individual," he said. (via WCBSTV.com, Video)

Like the 2005 attack at the British Consulate, a person on a bicycle was seen
peddling away from the explosion. Beyond that detail, however, meaningful
leads in the case are few and far between.

I find it somewhat amazing that in this time of heightened security and seemingly
ubiquitous surveillance a man on a bicycle can conduct an attack like this
without leaving behind so much as a single image. Perhaps the next consulate
will fare better.