NCJ Number
64107
Journal
Rydges Volume: 51 Issue: 1 Dated: (JANUARY 1978) Pages: 55-59
Date Published
1978
Length
5 pages
Annotation
THE RISE IN ARMED ROBBERY IN AUSTRALIA, WHICH APPEARS TO BE A KIND OF URBAN TERRORISM, CALLS FOR MORE SECURITY PRECAUTIONS ON THE PART OF THE AUSTRALIAN BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
Abstract
RECENT ARMED ROBBERIES IN SYDNEY AND MELBOURNE DISPLAY URBAN GUERRILLA TACTICS COMBINED WITH INDISCRIMINATE VIOLENCE THAT INSTILL FEAR IN VICTIMS; SINCE FEAR CAUSES ROBBERS AND VICTIMS ALIKE TO ACT IMPULSIVELY AND IRRATIONALLY, ARMED ROBBERY IS FRAUGHT WITH DANGERS. ACCORDING TO NEW SOUTH WALES'S BUREAU OF CRIMINAL STATISTICS, 70 PERCENT OF ARMED ROBBERS HAD NO PREVIOUS CONVICTIONS. MANY OF THESE AMATEURS HAD TURNED TO ARMED ROBBERY ON IMPULSE OUT OF FINANCIAL DESPERATION; MANY WERE DRUG ADDICTS AND ALCOHOLICS. ON THE OTHER HAND, PROFESSIONALS ARE MARKED BY COOL CALCULATION OF VICTIMS. RAIDS ON FACTORIES, BANKS, CLUBS, AND OTHER BUSINESS PREMISES OFTEN INVOLVE PATIENT RESEARCH, OBSERVATION, LIAISON, AND TEAM WORK ON THE PART OF THE BANDITS. MANY IMPRISONED PROFESSIONALS DEPEND ON 'FIRST-TIMERS' WHO MAY HAVE USEFUL INFORMATION--THUS MANY ROBBERIES ARE CONCEIVED AND PARTIALLY PLANNED IN PRISON. MANY FIRMS AND BUSINESSES ATTRACT ARMED ROBBERY BECAUSE OF THEIR INFLEXIBLE ROUTINES, WHICH RENDER ANY SECURITY SYSTEM VULNERABLE. RISK MANAGEMENT INVOLVES PREVENTIVE STRATEGIES THAT HELP AVOID CIRCUMSTANCES THAT CAUSE LOSS OR LESSEN THE COST OF UNAVOIDABLE LOSS TO ITS LOWEST POSSIBLE LEVEL. SUCH STRATEGIES INCLUDE (1) VARYING BANKING AND PAYROLL ROUTINES, (2) DEVISING SECURITY VARIABLES AND INSTALLING SECURITY DEVICES WHEREVER POSSIBLE, (3) AVOIDING PREDICTABILITY IN BUSINESS AND PRIVATE LIFE IF LARGE AMOUNTS OF CASH ARE BEING CARRIED AND (4) BEING AWARE OF CONSTANT SURVEILLANCE BY STRANGERS. OTHER TACTICS ARE TO WARN THE FAMILY OF STRANGERS AND TO TAKE CARE THAT MAIL IS READ ONLY BY AUTHORIZED PERSONS. FINALLY, IF A ROBBERY OCCURS, UTMOST CAUTION MUST BE PRACTICED AND THE DANGER OF MURDER MUST ALWAYS BE EXPECTED; LOSSES CAN BE MINIMIZED DURING SUCH AN EVENT, BUT LIVES MUST NEVER BE JEOPARDIZED. FURTHER ADVICE FOR CONDUCT DURING A ROBBERY IS OFFERED. TWO PHOTOGRAPHS ARE INCLUDED. (MHP)