Would-Be Thieves Blame Economy For Crime

Desperation Crime

by Rachel Abell

Two attempted robberies in two days here in the Borderland and now officials say both would-be-theives blame their crimes on the tough economic times.

This past Friday ABC-7 told you about a man who tried to rob a Bank of America in Northeast El Paso.

The very next day police say another man tried to rob an Ace Checks Cashed store along Doniphan in the Upper Valley.

60-year old Kevin Fitzpatrick was arrested in the attempted bank robbery.

His reason?

“His situation was that he was out of money, out of a job,” said Andrea Simmons, a spokeswoman for the FBI here in El Paso, “that’s certainly something that can lead people to rob whether it be a bank or an atm or a store.”

And authorities say that was the case on Saturday…a 19-year old man allegedly tried to set fire to an a-t-m machine on Mesa Street near Mesa Hills.

Police then say the man walked into the Ace Checks Cashed store and demanded money.

“It’s our understanding he was also facing some economic difficulties so these two situations in two days where you see economic problems being the motivation,” said Simmons, “it’s a sad situation that he felt desperate enough to have to go to this extreme.”

But Simmons said people need to understand that money problems are never an excuse for breaking the law.

“In both cases, the person is ultimately arrested and they’re going to face jail time…so that is not the place to turn to if you’re having economic difficulties…robbing a bak or a store is not the answer and it’s only going to make your circumstances a lot worse,” she said.

Authorities are quick to point out that there were only four bank robberies in all of 2008.

They say the question now is whether the struggling economy will help that number climb in 2009.