Vancouver police say two men have been charged after 34 bank robberies in and around the city over a three-month period last year.

Duane Robert Burd, 39, is accused of 20 counts of robbery and six counts of using an imitation firearm.

His alleged accomplice, 30-year-old Timothy Peter Everett, has been charged with 11 counts of robbery, three counts of using an imitation firearm and additional shoplifting and assault charges.

Det. Const. Dean Wells says Vancouver police and their colleagues recognized a pattern in the robberies, leading them to conclude two or more people were involved.

Twenty investigators worked with security managers at banks and credit unions to collect evidence and identify the suspects, who allegedly carried out up to two robberies a day between last October and December.

Vancouver is a hot spot for bank robbers compared to the rest of country, but according to Dan Weaver of the Canadian Bankers Association, the numbers are falling.

"Over the past four years we have reduced the amount of robberies in financial insitutions in British Columbia from a high of almost 500 to 263 last year, and in the City of Vancouver we've also seen a steady decrease," said Weaver.