1 Book Cover Here Chapter 18 ROBBERY Criminal Investigation: A Method for Reconstructing the Past, 7 th Edition Copyright © 2014, Elsevier Inc. All Rights.

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Book CoverHere

Chapter 18

ROBBERY

Criminal Investigation: A Method for Reconstructing the Past, 7th Edition

Copyright © 2014, Elsevier Inc. All Rights Reserved

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Robbery• Strong psychological and social implications within the

community and affects millions of Americans every year

• High probability of physical injury, emotional trauma, and feelings of helplessness

• Investigations employ all the elements involved in a criminal investigation– People, method, physical evidence, crime analysis,

and records– A confrontational crime

• Victim can be an eyewitness


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Impact on the Community

• Fear• Reduce the quality of life in a neighborhood• Political pressure on police department• Frequency

– Robberies on streets and highways accounted for 43.2% of robbery offenses in 2010

– Commercial establishments — 22.9%– Residences — 17.3%


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Model Penal Code Definition• A person is guilty of robbery if, in the course of

committing a theft, he or she:– Inflicts serious bodily harm upon another; or– Threatens another with or purposely puts him in fear of

serious bodily injury;– Commits or threatens to commit any felony of the first

or second degree.• An act shall be deemed “in the course of

committing a theft” if it occurs in an attempt to commit theft or in flight after the attempt or commission.


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Statistical Definition

• The unlawful taking or attempted taking of property that is in the immediate possession of another, by force or threat of force.


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Categories of Robbery

• Categories: based on type of threat or force used– Armed robbery– Strong-arm robbery

• Bank Robberies


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Robbery Victims and Witnesses

• Physical factors– Age, sex, race, stature, eyesight, physical

infirmities, injury

• Emotional/Psychological factors– Degree of distress, prior victimization, ego,

attitude toward police, attitude toward race


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Victims

• Males are victimized more than twice as often as females

• Persons between the ages of 12 and 24 have a higher probability of victimization

• Probability of victimization is also related to – Where individuals live– Their occupation– Their availability as targets


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Robbery Suspects

• Majority:– Under age 25 (2005 = 53%; 2010 = 64.2%)– Male– Black (55%); White (43.3%); Other Races (1.7%)

• Clearances:– In 2010 … robberies cleared = 25+% – In 2010 … Juveniles = 14% of clearances


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Typology

• Street and commercial robberies– Street: Younger offenders – act in groups– Commercial: Older offenders – act alone or with a

partner

• Residence and home invasion robberies– At the home of a perceived wealthy resident– Home invasion (primary motive not robbery)


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Conducting the Investigation:Physical Evidence

1. Footprints may be present.2. Fingerprints may be left in proximate locations.3. Saliva may be present on discarded facial masks.4. Body secretions, fiber evidence, or other trace materials

may be present on the victim’s clothing.5. Trace material may be present on the suspect’s clothing

that will link him or her to the victim or the scene.6. Physical evidence may be available where a weapon is

recovered. 7. Fingerprints/trace evidence can be left on the articles

recovered. Copyright © 2014, Elsevier Inc. All

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Conducting the Investigation: Records

• Court records• Prison records (particularly recent releases)• Other law enforcement agency records

(including federal, state, and local)• Other agencies (unemployment offices,

schools, housing offices, drug rehabilitation programs, etc.)

• Credit card companies• Motor vehicle bureau records


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Conducting the Investigation:Other Sources

• Other investigators• Information from patrol officers• Informants• Individuals arrested in other cases• Stores where particular types of weapons may

be purchased• Closed-circuit television recordings recovered

at the scene


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Follow-Up Activities

• When all leads appear to be exhausted, the solution may lie in past crimes and/or M.O.– Recognizing patterns– Geographical locations– Types of victims– Number and characteristics of associates

• Cross-jurisdictional information sharing


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Conclusion

• Most street robberies are not well-planned– Opportunity-driven

• More sophisticated/professional robberies– Varying degrees of preparation


1 Book Cover Here Chapter 18 ROBBERY Criminal Investigation: A Method for Reconstructing the Past, 7 th Edition Copyright © 2014, Elsevier Inc. All Rights.

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