1. Some Statistics about Robbery In 90% of robberies, the suspect is a male Most robberies occur in metropolitan areas Most robberies are committed by strangers 60% of robberies occur in the evening Offenders displayed a weapon in about half of all robberies

2. More thoughts and stats Males are victimized more than twice as often as females Persons 12-24 years have a higher probability of being a victim Blacks are victimized 3 times more often than whites; Hispanics twice as often as whites People making less than $7,500 are victimized more than 3 times as much as those making more than $35,000 Most people do not make good witnesses because it happens so quickly and there is a high degree of stress

3. Armed Robbery: Elements (Felony - Up to Life) 750.529 Any person who shall assault another, and shall feloniously rob, steal and take from his person, or in his presence, any money or other property, which may be the subject of larceny, such robber being armed with a dangerous weapon, or any article used or fashioned in a manner to lead the person so assaulted to reasonably believe it to be a dangerous weapon, shall be guilty of a felony.

4. Unarmed Robbery: Elements (Up to 15 years) 750.530 Any person who shall, by force and violence, or by assault or putting in fear, feloniously rob, steal and take from the person of another, or in his presence, any money or other property which may be the subject of larceny, such robber not being armed with a dangerous weapon, shall be guilty of a felony.

5. ELEMENTS OF THE CRIME OF ROBBERY (cont'd ) –Another. The property taken must belong to another, not to the accused. –The intent to deprive permanently. Robbery is a crime of specific intent. –The use of force, fear, or threat of force. This element of the crime requires that the force or threat of force was directed against the physical safety of the victim.

6. TYPOLOGY OF ROBBERIES Visible Street Robberies –Approximately 5 of every 10 robberies happen on the street Carjackings –In Detroit in 1990 the term carjacking was coined to describe the growing numbers of these potentially violent confrontations between offenders and car driving victims Home Invasion Robberies –Robberies in which one or more perpetrators actually enter the home make up about 12 percent of reported robberies

7. TYPOLOGY OF ROBBERIES –Automatic Teller Machine Robberies At one point robberies at these locations were so publicized that critics referred to ATMs as “magnets for crime” Taxi Cab Robberies –Taxi cab drivers are easy targets because they work alone, are available at all times of the day and night Convenience Store Robberies –Convenience stores account for about six percent of all reported robberies Truck Hijacking Robberies –In this country, cargo theft may be responsible for losses of a $10 to $12 billion a year

8. ATM MACHINE ROBBERIES Recently those robberies have declined due to: –being placed in highly visible locations. –having better surrounding lighting. 12-4

9. TECHNIQUES USED IN COMMITTING TRUCK HIJACKING ROBBERIES Truck drivers may be confronted at "road blocks" or "detours" set up by robbers They may be forced from the road as they enter or leave truck stops They may be tricked into helping "disabled" motorist Hijackers may invade truck parks and seize or kill security personnel

10. SETTING OF ROBBERIES Street Robberies: –Involve a single offender –Are committed by a youthful robber –Are also called muggings or strong-arm robberies

11. ARREST PROBABILITIES Robbery bears a comparatively low clearance rate. The reasons for this are several: –Physical evidence may not be found –The time of perpetrators at the scene is limited –Witnesses are usually shaken so their information runs from minimal to completely erroneous

12. OFFICER STEROTYPING EN ROUTE TO A ROBBERY These stereotypes should be avoided: –Action stereotyping occurs when the officer's expectations are so set to see one thing that he or she fails to perceive the event accurately –Physical stereotyping is an officer's expectation that the robber will be of a particular description –In situational stereotyping the officer’s previous experience with and knowledge of a particular location increases their vulnerability

13. CONSIDERATIONS FOR AN OFFICER WHEN APPROACHING THE SCENE OF A ROBBERY Ensure you have all available information from the dispatcher Be alert for suspects fleeing from the scene on foot or in a vehicle Mentally review information from other recent robberies Know your primary tactical objectives –Public safety –Officer protection –Tactical control of scene

14. CONSIDERATIONS FOR AN OFFICER WHEN APPROACHING THE SCENE OF A ROBBERY (cont'd) Be prepared to execute secondary objectives, including –Conducting preliminary investigation –Apprehending perpetrator –Recovering property Use a low-profile approach to the scene arriving unobserved by the perpetrator. Plan and coordinate actions with other responding units

15. CONSIDERATIONS FOR AN OFFICER WHEN APPROACHING THE SCENE OF A ROBBERY (cont'd) Realize that perpetrators may have police scanners and adjust your radio transmissions accordingly Never assume the robber(s) has/have left the scene Respond to the scene on parallel streets using emergency lights, but not the siren Remember it is believed nine out of ten robbery- hostage incidents occur due to a too-visible first- responding officer

16. CONSIDERATIONS FOR AN OFFICER WHEN APPROACHING THE SCENE OF A ROBBERY (cont'd) At a distance of three to five blocks in urban setting and further in rural areas, turn off your emergency lights to avoid being spotted by a lookout Decelerate smoothly without "squealing" tires Size up the situation, check for: –Suspects on the scene –Lookouts –Escape vehicles

17. CONSIDERATIONS FOR AN OFFICER WHEN APPROACHING THE SCENE OF A ROBBERY (cont'd) Keep your vehicle and portable radios at low volume to avoid being detected Primary and backup officers should take complimentary position where they can watch different aspects of building and not have lines of fire which endanger each other Do not get so close to the scene that you are "inside" of possible lookouts, a situation that could expose you to fire from two sides

18. OFFICER’S RESPONSIBILITIES IN THE ORIGINAL ROBBERY INVESTIGATION Conduct a thorough crime scene search Carefully interview witnesses and victims Secure the most accurate identification and descriptions Check avenues of robber approach and flight for clues Conduct a neighborhood canvas

19. MANUAL COMPOSITE FACIAL IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM Hundreds of transparencies of different facial features can be selected from and “sandwiched” together to create a likeness of a suspect; with nearly four decades of experience Identi-Kit is a leading brand name for this product.

20. COMPUSKETCH Computer programs such as Compusketch: –Aid investigators –Create suspect likenesses –Use exiting digital mug-shot databases –Are used throughout the world (Courtesy Idaho Bureau of Investigation)

21. ACTIONS OF THE OFFICER ASSIGNED TO FOLLOW-UP INVESTIGATION OF A ROBBERY Review a copy of original offense report to become familiar with the case Consider facts that suggest an M.O., such as: –words spoken by the perpetrator –choice of weapons –type of property taken Examine all physical evidence

22. ACTIONS OF THE OFFICER ASSIGNED TO FOLLOW-UP INVESTIGATION OF A ROBBERY (cont'd) Conduct a file check of the victim(s) to see if they often reported robberies in the past. Re-interview the victim and witnesses if it appears some information was not obtained due to incomplete questioning Have the victim and witnesses view the mug-shot file of known and active robbers

23. ACTIONS OF THE OFFICER ASSIGNED TO FOLLOW-UP INVESTIGATION OF A ROBBERY (cont'd) Return to the crime scene at the same time of day in an attempt to locate additional witnesses Reconduct a neighborhood check Attempt to tie the robbery to other robberies in the hope that the combined information may lead to suspect(s) Reliable informants should be judiciously contacted

24. THE CRIME SCENE TECHNICIAN AND THE LABORATORY In many departments, the uniformed officer is responsible for processing the crime scene –Other departments are fortunate enough to have the services of a crime scene technician trained in procuring evidence at the crime scene Forensic Photography Analysis –Even when robbers wear a mask, the analysis of forensic photographs may yield useful information such as the height of the suspect and defects in clothes

25. Home Invasion: Elements First Degree First Degree (20 year, $5,000) A person who breaks and enters a dwelling with intent to commit a felony or a larceny in the dwelling or person who enters a dwelling without permission with intent to commit a felony or larceny is guilty of home invasion in the first degree if, at any time while the person is entering, present in or exiting the dwelling either of the following circumstances exist: –The person is armed with a dangerous weapon –Another person is lawfully present in the dwelling

26. Home Invasion: Second Degree (15 years, $3,000) A person who breaks and enters a dwelling with intent to commit a felony or larceny or who enters without permission with such intent is guilty of home invasion in the 2 nd Degree

27. Breaking and Entering: Elements (Felony: 10 Year) 750.110 A person who breaks and enters, with intent to commit a felony or a larceny therein, a tent, hotel, office, store, shop, warehouse, barn, granary, factory or other building, structure, boat, ship or railroad car.

28. B & E – Con’t To prove B & E the investigation must establish and the prosecution must prove each of the following elements: 1.That the defendant broke into the building 2.That the defendant entered the building 3.When the defendant broke and entered (he/she) intended to commit 3.When the defendant broke and entered (he/she) intended to commit –Related Offenses:  Entering w/o Breaking (5 years)  Possession of burglar’s tools (10 years)

29. Burglary and Home Invasion Characteristics that are common to both home invasion and the B & E of commercial locations

30. PROFESSIONAL AND AMATEUR BURGLARS Professional burglars: –plan their burglaries –are seldom arrested –steal large value items –commit only a few offenses per year

31. PROFESSIONAL AND AMATEUR BURGLARS (cont'd) Amateur burglars: –Seldom plan their burglaries –Are frequently arrested –Work in small segments of their city –Seldom have a “big score” –May commit other violent offenses if confronted –Often have lengthy arrest records

32. THE LAW The crime of burglary generally consists of the following elements: –breaking and entering –a dwelling house or other building belonging to another –with the intent to commit a crime therein Burglary and related offenses are classified as crimes against the habitation, dwelling, or building itself; no force need be directed against a person

33. APPROACHING THE BURGLARY SCENE AND INITIAL ACTIONS When responding to a burglary-in-progress call, uniformed officers should drive rapidly while avoiding excessive noise When dispatched to a burglary-in-progress call, the uniformed officer working alone should attempt to coordinate his or her arrival time and position with the backup unit If a burglary has been committed and the police department has a canine unit, the uniformed officer at the scene should request its presence prior to entering the building

34. BURGLARY TOOLS These tools are often similar to household tools: –crowbars –screwdrivers –modified tools used as lockpicks

35. Fences Those who knowingly purchase stolen goods at a fraction of their actual worth, and then resell the item for a considerable profit.

36. TYPES OF FENCES There are numerous types of fences –Amateurs –Store owners and individuals who often only but the goods for which they have placed an order with the thief –Professionals –Occasional or opportunistic fences –Providers of illicit goods and services –Technology proficient thieves and fences who do their business on the internet

37. TYPES OF FENCES (cont'd) –The police know that the more that receiver markets can be disrupted or eliminated, the greater the likelihood that there will be some reduction in burglary –Police “sting” operations are an effective means of: combating fences identifying active criminals penetrating criminal organizations recovering property

38. STING OPERATION An effective means of combating fences, undercover officers set up a legitimate appearing business or other type of location in which they slowly gain a reputation of being a fence. Transactions are videotaped. Property is recovered, other fences are identified, and ultimately thieves began talking openly about criminal matters, creating an important intelligence source.

39. PAWN SHOPS Pawnshops are seen by many as part of fencing operations Some cities have passed laws to help regulate pawn shops Those same laws help to reduce the number of pawnshops acting as fences