FORT MYERS, Fla.- When news broke of a bank robbery in Collier County on Tuesday, one of our Facebook friends asked an interesting question. How often do bank robbers actually get caught? We took a look at FBI crime statistics to find out. 

A busy Bank of America was bothered by a brazen crime on Tuesday. A bank robber demanded cash and got away, at least for now.

"Crime does not pay and definitely robbing a bank does not pay because almost every time you're gonna get caught," said Trish Routte of SWFL Crime Stoppers.

According to the FBI, Florida has the highest number of bank robberies in the South East and while most of the cash isn't recovered, most of the bank robbers are. The FBI's most recent statistics show in 2011, there were more than 5,000 bank robberies nationwide. More than $38 million dollars has been taken. Only $8 million has been recovered and returned to banks. 54 percent of the suspects are identified and 18 percent are repeat offenders.

"They're just going up to the counter, getting money and getting out of there.  But they're forgetting that there are cameras watching them the whole time," said Routte.

And that's how many bank robbers are caught.  Thanks to Crime Stoppers tips, Charles Archie was arrested in January for allegedly robbing the 5th Third bank on State Road 82. And news reports of a 5th Third bank robbery in March, lead Collier County investigators to arrest Bower Thomas. Leaving the suspected bank robber behind bars and the tipster with cold hard cash.

"Eventually you're gonna get caught and there's good surveillance, you're gonna get caught you're gonna end up in jail," said Routte.

Not all bank crimes are reported to the FBI, so there could be more incidents not included in the statistics.