Subtlety isn’t necessarily a good thing when it comes to bank security, often the best way to deter would-be-robbers is through clear and open displays of fire power – though even this doesn’t always work.

In Manila, banks have their own branded and comical-looking security vans that appear no more than large metal safes on wheels and are protected by pump-action shot gun wielding security guards.

The Philippines is afflicted by violent robberies, and this is where burningpants parent CoreData has operations.

In the Philippines in 2008, two major robberies involved the killing of civilians and bank personnel and stunned the whole nation.

The first case was the Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) robbery which happened on May 16, 2008 in Manila.

This is now considered the most gruesome murder inside a bank after leaving 10 innocent men and women dead.

Police described the killing as “murder gangland-style” as each customer of the bank was shot in the head.

The second most serious case in recent times took place on the premises of the University of the Philippines on November 10, 2008.

Armed robbers attacked an armoured van of the Philippine Veterans Bank and resulted in the murder of a teller and two security guards.

The resurgence of bank-related crimes has put the authorities on heightened alert.

Unfortunately, anti-crime campaigns have weakened in the eyes of the public as robbers have become more strategic and vicious in their attacks.