In the early 60s robbery was relatively easy. Security in banks, by today's standards, was almost non-existent, and a shot fired at the ceiling would stand a good chance of shocking most cashiers into submission. Even the Great Train Robbers did not feel it necessary to take guns with them and, as Buster Edwards and Tommy Wisbey recall, they were totally unprepared for the long sentences they received despite their lack of firearms. These sentences, though, did little to deter fellow robbers from using guns and the number of bank raids increased greatly.