Palatine bankers and businessmen made plans to make Palatine bandit-proof in 1925.

The State Bank of Palatine and First National Bank of Palatine did this in part by stocking up on shotguns, the firearm that had become so popular with bank bandits.

According to reports in the Palatine Enterprise newspaper, “These guns will be placed in the banks and adjoining businesses.

“The sounding of the danger signal will call out the reserves from the adjoining business houses, who will be able to shoot from cover and harass the bandits to the extent that may save bank funds.”

The newspaper said the action was being taken because “banditry is getting away with murder in Cook County, (which) rankles red-blooded Americans.”

• This is the 60th of 150 vignettes about Palatine history to be published in the Daily Herald, as part of the village’s sesquicentennial celebration.