ROBBERY

Robbery



Robbery

Introduction

The crime, which has been selected for this topic is Robbery. The reason why robbery has been selected is that this particular crime has a high rate in several countries. Robbery is the crime of seizing property through violence, fear, or intimidation. The term rob is derived from the German raub (“clothing”), since garments were a frequent target of robbers before factory mass production techniques decreased the production costs and the value of clothing. Robbery should not be confused with simple theft (which involves the, taking of property without force, violence, or intimidation) or burglary (which does not require the presence of a victim and is associated with the taking of property from a domicile or place of business). According to the U.S. Unified Crime Reporting (UCR) Program, the United States suffered 445,125 robberies, with a rate of 2.8 robberies per 1,000 people age 12 years and older. Depending on individual state statutes, the use of a lethal weapon may elevate the charge of robbery to armed robbery, whereas physical assault on the victim during the course of robbery will elevate the charge to aggravated robbery. As with other forms of interpersonal crime (homicide, sexual assault, aggravated assault), robbery places the victim in direct confrontation with the offender and is often a traumatizing experience. All issues related to Robbery will be discussed in following paragraphs.

Prevalence and Statistics

According to the FBI's 2007 statistics, although the estimated number of robberies (445,125) decreased 0.5% from the 2006 estimate, the 5-year robbery trend (2003 to 2007 data) showed an increase of 7.5%. The average victim lost $1,321 per robbery with banks suffering the highest average dollar loss ($4,201). The total U.S. losses attributed to robbery victims in the United States was estimated at $588 million, not taking into account associated losses because of hospitalization, insurance costs, and court and law enforcement costs, which would push the total annualized loss to more than $4 billion. Robbery is a violent crime, and overwhelmingly, firearms are the tool of choice for robbers (42.8%). (Jacobs, 2000)

Where Robbery Occurs

Common street robbery (meaning that the offense occurs between one or more individuals “outside” a domicile or place of business) comprises some 44% of all robberies. The overwhelming majority of street robberies occur in poor, urban neighborhoods where police protection is scarce, and, populations are concentrated. The second most common location for robberies to occur are in commercial establishments such as banks (2.1%), gas stations (2.6%), convenience stores (5.6%), and commercial houses (13.9%), which includes supermarkets, department stores, and restaurants. The remainder of offenses occurs in residences (15.2%, commonly referred to as “home invasions”) or as miscellaneous (16.8%, categorized as such because the locations are not easily categorical or are not properly recorded by law enforcement personnel). (Klaus, 1999)

Specialized Forms

Robbery can be broken down into several subcategories based on the characteristics of the victim. From a legal standpoint, most of these offenses will fall under the classification of robbery or aggravated robbery, but some (like carjacking) may receive ...