NCJ Number
231966
Date Published
2010
Length
57 pages
Annotation
This report presents an overview of the 7,133 victims of armed robberies in Australia reported to police between January 1, 2007, and December 31, 2007, and the associated factors, including location, which made them vulnerable to victimization.
Abstract
The study found that in 2007 there was approximately a 6-percent decrease in the number of armed-robbery victims compared with 2006. The average armed robbery involved only one weapon, with knives being the most common weapon (47 percent of armed robberies); 16 percent of armed robberies involved firearms. The average age of victims was 30 years old, and males were significantly more likely to be victimized than females. Just over 40 percent of armed robberies involving individual victims occurred in a retail setting, and 46 percent occurred in an open setting (recreational, transportation-related, or street). Forty-one victims had previous armed robbery victimization, with 71 percent of these victims being individuals. Organizations or commercial premises accounted for 26 of the armed robbery victims. Overall, the patterns in armed robbery suggest they are low-yield, unplanned, and essentially opportunistic. Targeted victims are accessible to the offenders, who are generally inexperienced and likely to use "easy-to-obtain" weapons such as knives. High-yield armed robberies tend to involve some level of planning and organization, as well as a carefully selected target that is not likely to be near the offender's neighborhood of residence. High-yield armed robbers will often use weapons that are more difficult to obtain, such as firearms, and are more likely to have partners. There is a trend toward high-yield, planned robberies that target individuals known by the offenders to carry large amounts of cash. This may be evidence of target displacement, as high-yield financial institutions have more security measures and carry a high risk of getting caught. 26 tables, 6 figures, and 24 references