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

2 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 Copyright © 2014, Elsevier Inc. All Rights Reserved

3 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% Copyright © 2014, Elsevier Inc. All Rights Reserved

4 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. Copyright © 2014, Elsevier Inc. All Rights Reserved

5 Statistical Definition The unlawful taking or attempted taking of property that is in the immediate possession of another, by force or threat of force. Copyright © 2014, Elsevier Inc. All Rights Reserved

6 Categories of Robbery Categories: based on type of threat or force used – Armed robbery – Strong-arm robbery Bank Robberies Copyright © 2014, Elsevier Inc. All Rights Reserved

7 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 Copyright © 2014, Elsevier Inc. All Rights Reserved

8 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 Copyright © 2014, Elsevier Inc. All Rights Reserved

9 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 Copyright © 2014, Elsevier Inc. All Rights Reserved

10 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) Copyright © 2014, Elsevier Inc. All Rights Reserved

11 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 Rights Reserved

12 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 Copyright © 2014, Elsevier Inc. All Rights Reserved

13 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 Copyright © 2014, Elsevier Inc. All Rights Reserved

14 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 Copyright © 2014, Elsevier Inc. All Rights Reserved

15 Conclusion Most street robberies are not well-planned – Opportunity-driven More sophisticated/professional robberies – Varying degrees of preparation Copyright © 2014, Elsevier Inc. All Rights Reserved