Half of Europe's bank robberies happen in Italy

Just as robbing banks loses its appeal among Europe's criminal classes, Italy's small-time crooks have proved the exception by attempting just over 3,000 robberies last year, 57% of the European total.

New figures released by the Italian banking union FIBA showed Lombardy in northern Italy was a favourite haunt of masked bandits, with 640 successful robberies compared to 274 in Sicily.

Nationwide, bank clerks now face a one in 10 chance of being held up every year, FIBA wrote in its staff magazine.

Italy's numbers have followed the growth in bank branches, up 1,800 since 2004 to reach more than 32,000, representing 784 retail banks. A prisoner amnesty last year which freed thousands of criminals also appears to have helped push heists up a further 26.3% in the first half of 2007.

One Ferrara bank clerk, Stefano Bellettati, told La Repubblica that after being robbed nine times in 11 years, one heist stood out. "Four robbers with wigs and masks came in speaking English, French and Spanish among themselves to avoid identification and fled on bicycles."