Chapter 12

Robbery

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Introduction• Robbery has plagued the human race throughout

history• Robbery is one of the three most violent crimes against

the person• Most robberies were committed on streets or highways • Firearms were used in 42.6 percent of robberies • This crime poses a definite hazard to law enforcement

officers

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DEFINITION• Felonious taking of another’s property• Either directly from the person or in that person’s

presence• Through force or intimidation

Oral demand Note

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Robbery: An Overview

CATEGORIES• Residential• Commercial• Street• Vehicle-driver

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Classification

RESIDENTIAL• Less frequent than the other types • Tends to involve entire families• Home invaders usually target a resident• Home-invading robberies are increasing in rural areas

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Classification

COMMERCIAL• Occurs most frequently toward the end of the week • Committed by individuals with criminal records• MOs should be compared with those of past robberies• Convenience stores that are robbed once are likely to

be robbed again

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Classification

STREET• Most frequently committed on public streets,

sidewalks, in alleys and in parking lots• Most are committed with a weapon• Both the victim and the robber are usually on foot• Speed and surprise typify street robberies

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Classification

VEHICLE-DRIVER• Delivery and messenger vehicles• Armored trucks and personal cars• Taxis• Buses• Trucks

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Classification

CARJACKING• Taking of a motor vehicle by force or threat of force• Some stage accidents

BANK ROBBERY• Jurisdiction of the FBI• Professional versus amateur• Robberies at ATM machines

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Classification

OVERVIEW• In most state statutes, common elements exist:

The wrongful taking of personal property From the person or in the person’s presence Against the person’s will by force or threat of force

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Elements of the Crime: Robbery

ALL-UNITS RESPONSE• Proceed rapidly, but use caution• Assume robbers at scene• Be prepared for gunfire• Look for/immobilize getaway vehicle• Avoid hostage situation if possible• Make immediate arrest if possible

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Responding to a Robbery-in-Progress Call

OVERVIEW• Average length is approximately 12 hours• Special weapons and tactics (SWAT) teams and crisis

negotiation teams (CNTs)• Main priority is to preserve life• Stockholm syndrome

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Hostage Situations

CHALLENGES FOR INVESTIGATORS• Lag time in reporting a robbery• Speed of its occurrence • Traumatizing effect on victims and witnesses• Nature of stolen items

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Preliminary Investigation and Special Challenges

ELEMENTS OF ROBBERY• Taking of property • Who is the legal owner?• Was property taken or intended to be taken?

From the person or in the presence of the person By force or the threat of force

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Proving the Elements of the Offense

IDENTIFYING THE SUSPECT• General appearance• Clothing • Disguises• Weapon• Vehicle

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The Complete Investigation

ESTABLISHING MODUS OPERANDI• Type of robbery and time• Method of attack and weapon• Number of robbers• Voice and words• Vehicles used • Peculiarities and objects sought

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The Complete Investigation

PHYSICAL EVIDENCE• Minimal at robbery scene• Surveillance cameras

MAPPING ROBBERY• Inherently serial• Global Information Software

(GIS) mapping capabilities

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The Complete Investigation

INDICATORS• Unusual delay in reporting • Amount of the loss not fitting victim’s financial status• Lack of correspondence with the physical evidence• Improbable events• Exceptionally detailed or vague description of offender• Lack of cooperation

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False Robbery Reports

Summary• Robbery is the felonious taking of another’s property • Robberies are classified as either residential,

commercial, street or vehicle-driver• Bank robberies are within the jurisdiction of the FBI• Prove each element of robbery separately• Obtain information about the suspect’s general

appearance, clothing, disguises and vehicle

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