LOS ANGELES -Bank of America seems to have discovered a winning robbery reduction program. Piloted here, Bank of America reports that the program has resulted in a 69% decline in robberies. Solutions were customized for each banking center and selectively adapted to each location. The winning solutions "mix" incorporates such elements as deployment of high quality, professionally trained, armed security officers; installation of bullet resistant bandit barriers; mantraps with weapons detection capabilities; high-tech digital surveillance systems that expedite transfer of photos of suspects to police; training for banking center associates on how to react if approached by a robber; and devices containing smoke and tear gas emitters and electronic transmitters. A comprehensive study by the National Safe Workplace Institute finds that the average bank robbery results in a $25,000 loss in soft and hard dollars, which includes the actual robbery loss, lost productivity, turnover, lost sales opportunities, counseling/therapy time and absenteeism. Plans are underway to launch the program nationwide.