NCJ Number
48370
Journal
Criminology Volume: 13 Issue: 1 Dated: (MAY 1975) Pages: 102-105
Date Published
1975
Length
4 pages
Annotation
A STUDY WAS UNDERTAKEN TO EXAMINE THE PATTERNS OF ROBBERY IN OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA. ROBBERY WAS DEFINED TO INCLUDE MUGGINGS, STICK-UPS, YOKINGS, AND OTHER METHODS WHEREBY CRIMINALS SEEK TO TAKE PROPERTY FACE-TO-FACE.
Abstract
OAKLAND HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST ROBBERY RATES OF ANY CITY IN THE COUNTRY. FOUR MAJOR FINDINGS OF THE STUDY DISPEL A NUMBER OF GENERALLY HELD ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT ROBBERY. FIRST, INTERCITY VARIANCE IN ROBBERY RATES IS VERY WIDE; TWO-THIRDS OF THE HALF-BLOCK SIZED AREAS OF THE CITY HAD NO ROBBERIES OR PURSE-SNATCHINGS AT ALL, WHILE OVER 50 PERCENT OF ALL ROBBERIES OCCURRED ALONG 36 MAJOR STREETS. WHILE SOME VIEW ROBBERS AS BOLD AND FEARLESS, ROBBERS IN ACTUALITY PREY ON THE OLD; EVEN WHERE THE VICTIM IS YOUNG AND MALE, ROBBERS TEND TO STRUCTURE THE SITUATION TO THEIR ADVANTAGE. IMMEDIATE ACTION BY CITIZENS OR THE POLICE ACCOUNT FOR 60 TO 90 PERCENT OF ROBBERY APPREHENSIONS. DETECTIVES AND FOLLOW-UP INVESTIGATIONS ARE RARELY AS CENTRAL TO APPREHENSION AS COMMONLY BELIEVED. FINALLY, U.S. SUPREME COURT DECISIONS HAVE CONTRIBUTED LITTLE OR NOTHING TO THE INCREASE IN ROBBERY RATES OR THE DISPARITY BETWEEN AMERICAN AND FOREIGN ROBBERY RATES. IT WAS ALSO FOUND THAT: (1) THERE IS GREATER VARIATION IN THE AGE OF MALE VICTIMS THAN IN THAT OF FEMALE VICTIMS; (2) PURSEASNATCHING MAY NOT TECHNICALLY BE ROBBERY, BUT MAY RESULT IN INJURY; (3) STRONG-ARM ROBBERIES ARE MORE LIKELY TO RESULT IN INJURY THAN ARMED ROBBERIES; (4) VICTIMS WERE PREDOMINANTLY WHITE, WHILE REPORTED ROBBERS WERE PREDOMINANTLY BLACK; (5) NEARLY 25 PERCENT OF ADULT OFFENDERS WERE DRUG DEPENDENT, AND 75 PERCENT WERE UNEMPLOYED; (6) A SHARP INCREASE IN ROBBERIES OF MALE VICTIMS OCCURS AFTER SUNSET, AND SKID-ROW, BAR, AND PROSTITUTION DISTRICTS ARE AREAS OF INTENSE ROBBERY ACTIVITY; (7) ROBBERIES OF FEMALE VICTIMS WERE MORE LIKELY TO OCCUR DURING SHOPPING HOURS AND ON THE STREETS; (8) ALL COMMERCIAL ROBBERIES OCCURRED IN 12 PERCENT OF THE HALF-BLOCK AREAS STUDIED; (9) IDENTIFICATION EVIDENCE IS MOST IMPORTANT FOR CHARGING ROBBERY SUSPECTS, WHILE CONFESSIONS AND PHYSICAL EVIDENCE ARE RELATIVELY UNIMPORTANT; (10) 30 PERCENT OF ALL ROBBERY SUSPECTS ARE RELEASED WITHOUT BEING CHARGED AND AN ADDITIONAL 20 PERCENT ARE NOT CONVICTED; (11) RESISTANCE TO A ROBBERY ATTEMPT IS MORE LIKELY TO BE HARMFUL THAN HELPFUL; (12) ALMOST HALF OF THE ROBBERS REPORTED NO PLANNING AND OVER TWO-THIRDS DID NOT CONSIDER THE POSSIBILITY OF APPREHENSION; (13) ALMOST 75 PERCENT OF THE ROBBERIES WERE COMMITTED IN THE ROBBERS' OWN TOWNS; AND (14) 40 PERCENT OF THE ROBBERS WHO USED A GUN IN THE ROBBERY USED AN UNLOADED OR SIMULATED WEAPON. (JAP)