Italy has seen an overall decrease in bank robberies, but the regional distribution remains highly unbalanced. Nationally, robberies are down in thirteen regions, including Lombardy, where the figure has dropped by 53%. However, the concentration of incidents remains high in Southern Italy, which leads the ranking of the most affected regions.
Sicily leads, Lombardy second, Campania third
According to data produced by Ossif, the Italian Banking Association's research center on fire safety and crime prevention, updated to the end of 2025, Sicily leads the way with 10 bank robberies in 2024, followed by Lombardy with 9. Campania ranks third, with 7 robberies committed last year. Specifically, Catania was the most affected city on the island, with 6 robberies, while Palermo had only 2 cases.
Highest risk index in Sicily
The ratio of absolute numbers to bank branches shows that Sicily is the region with the highest risk: one robbery for every 100 branches, the highest rate in Italy and well above the national average of 0,3 robberies per 100 branches. At the provincial level, the most worrying figure is Catania, with 2,8 robberies per 100 branches (up from 1,3 in 2023), followed by Caltanissetta with 1,7 and Palermo with 0,8.
Campania: fewer cases than in the North, but risk level still high
In Campania, with seven robberies in 2024, the number of incidents is lower than in Lombardy and Sicily, but remains high when compared to the number of active branches in the region. The region thus confirms its role as a sensitive area from the perspective of banking security, with a level of risk that continues to raise concerns among unions and supervisory bodies.
Criminals in pairs, disguised and fast
Gabriele Urzì, national director of Fabi and head of health and safety for the union in the province of Palermo, commented on the trend, also highlighting the robbers' operating methods. In 2024, Urzì explained, criminals predominantly acted in pairs (44% of cases) or alone (35%), with clear use of disguise: 79% of robbers covered their faces. Most incidents occurred quickly, within a period of no more than 10 minutes (63% of cases), and nearly three-quarters of the attacks (77%) involved the main door of the branches as the entry point.
A call for safety: checks, training, and investments
A comprehensive analysis of the data reveals a contradictory picture: on the one hand, a general decline in the number of attacks; on the other, a region in the South, starting with Sicily and extending to Campania, remains exposed to a very high risk. The Italian Banking Association (FABI) thus reiterates its call for enhanced controls, alarm systems, staff training, and investments in physical and technological security measures to reduce both the likelihood of attack and the vulnerability of banks at the heart of local communities.
Interesting report, but the numbers need to be better explained. One robbery for every 100 branches sounds alarming, but it lacks context: what are the periods, the methods, and the number of repeat offenders? Without this data, the interpretation remains partial and unhelpful.
Statistics show a decline, but distribution is stable. The text cites Catania and Palermo, but lacks an analysis of factors such as unemployment and local traffic. Perhaps the proposed measures aren't enough, and operational training and a greater presence in the area are needed.
I understand the data provided but it seems to me that the interpretation is too simplistic, it talks about Sicily and Lombardy but does not consider the local differences, the social economic causes and the lack of controls: more investments, training and stricter controls are needed.