NCJ Number
231317
Date Published
July 2010
Length
6 pages
Annotation
Using research from the Australian Institute of Criminology's National Armed Robbery Monitoring Program, this paper examines cash in transit (CIT) armed robberies in Australia, the offenders who commit them, and their perceived level of professionalism, as well as the nature of CIT attacks overseas and the types of crime prevention strategies used in other countries.
Abstract
CIT is "the transport, delivery, and receipt of valuables such as cash, securities, jewels, bullion, and other financial instruments using escort services in armored or nonarmored vehicles." CIT armed robberies generally involve planning by multiple offenders with firearms who are seeking substantial gains. Given this profile, it is likely that most CIT offenders will be professional armed robbers. This conclusion is supported by Gill (2001) in one of the few studies of CIT. The incidence of CIT armed robbery in Australia has increased in the last 2 years; however, Australia still experiences fewer such crimes compared with the United Kingdom and South Africa. Australia has yet to experience high numbers of CIT heists, ramming, or explosive attacks such as commonly occur in South Africa. The current study confirms that CIT armed robberies are typically committed by professional offenders, who typically plan the offense, study the target, use high-powered weaponry, and have a high success rate. This profile of CIT offenders must be taken into account when considering the development of new crime prevention strategies. Increasing the number of changes to CIT vehicle routes and delivery schedules is one method likely to reduce or disrupt the opportunity for offenders to execute a successful robbery; however, the ability to diversify CIT deliveries is limited by the need to meet clients' needs for cash pickups/drop-offs to be conducted at specific times. Other prevention strategies are also recommended. 2 figures and 15 references