Smile, you're on digital camera.

That's the message from banks to those who might rob them.

Improved security camera technology is leading to sharper images of suspects that are easier and quicker to distribute.

Case in point: the robbery of the Bank of Hawaii branch in Kaimuki on Sept. 25. The image of the suspect was so clear, the suspect turned himself in the next day.

Peter J.W. Jones made his initial appearance in court last week after being charged with bank robbery.

The South King Street Bank of Hawaii branch was robbed Tuesday, but the suspect in that case is still at large despite a fairly clear picture.

Brian Ishikawa, Bank of Hawaii senior vice president and corporate security director, said the bank invested in a digital security system two years ago.

For years banks have used time-lapse video recorders, with hard copies of recordings that needed to be picked up, scanned then filed away.

“;In the past, what we had to do is literally go to the branch, pull the videotape and make prints of it, and have it scanned or e-mailed,”; Ishikawa said. “;Each time you scan it, it degrades the image quality.”;

Today's digital shots don't degrade as they are e-mailed, and images can be accessed remotely over the bank's network. It's also become an effective cost-saving measure, eliminating the need to file video tapes in storage.

Many banks in Hawaii have adopted similar technologies, including Central Pacific Bank, which replaced its analog system last year.

“;Just to access the tapes from before, you might have to wait for the technician from the alarm company,”; said Joe Miller, Central Pacific Bank corporate security manager. “;Because it's a digital file, now it's very easy to just e-mail them to anybody.”;

He said the bank also trains people to greet customers because “;criminals don't like eye-to-eye contact.”;

“;Central Pacific takes a very positive role in combating this,”; Miller said. “;All the branches are trained in identity theft. There are monthly inspections of the security cameras.”;

As of yesterday there have been 13 bank robberies on Oahu this year, one less than last year.

With the economic downturn, bank security officials are concerned about an increase in robberies, fraud and other financial crimes.

“;As the economy starts suffering, we're gonna also see financial fraud potentially increase,”; said Brian Ishikawa, Bank of Hawaii senior vice president and corporate security director. “;It's always going to reflect itself in the types of fraud and the frequency of the crimes. That is a concern.”;