Florida Banks Turn to Dress Codes to Fight Robberies

No hats, hoods or sunglasses. Hmm, they left out panty hose masks.

After a series of robberies in recent months, some banks in Longwood have armed themselves with a new crime-fighting weapon they hope will ward off potential crooks: a dress code.

Their message is simple: no hats, no hoods, no shades — no problem.

This latest "what not to wear" effort — part of an anti-crime push organized by Longwood police — is designed to bolster bank security while not offending customers. Those who flout the code by refusing to remove their hats and sunglasses — items often used by robbers to obscure their identities — probably won't be turned away; they'll simply be scrutinized more closely while they're in the bank