1. Chapter 12
Robbery
Hess 12-1

2. Introduction
• Robbery has plagued the human race throughout
history
• Robbery is one of the three most violent crimes against
the person
• Most robberies were committed on streets or highways
• Firearms were used in 42.6 percent of robberies
• This crime poses a definite hazard to law enforcement
officers
Hess 12-2

3. Robbery: An Overview
DEFINITION
• Felonious taking of another’s property
• Either directly from the person or in that person’s
presence
• Through force or intimidation

Oral demand

Note
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4. Classification
CATEGORIES
• Residential
• Commercial
• Street
• Vehicle-driver
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5. Classification
RESIDENTIAL
• Less frequent than the other types
• Tends to involve entire families
• Home invaders usually target a resident
• Home-invading robberies are increasing in rural areas
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6. Classification
COMMERCIAL
• Occurs most frequently toward the end of the week
• Committed by individuals with criminal records
• MOs should be compared with those of past robberies
• Convenience stores that are robbed once are likely to
be robbed again
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7. Classification
STREET
• Most frequently committed on public streets,
sidewalks, in alleys and in parking lots
• Most are committed with a weapon
• Both the victim and the robber are usually on foot
• Speed and surprise typify street robberies
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8. Classification
VEHICLE-DRIVER
• Delivery and messenger vehicles
• Armored trucks and personal cars
• Taxis
• Buses
• Trucks
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9. Classification
CARJACKING
• Taking of a motor vehicle by force or threat of force
• Some stage accidents
BANK ROBBERY
• Jurisdiction of the FBI
• Professional versus amateur
• Robberies at ATM machines
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10. Elements of the Crime: Robbery
OVERVIEW
• In most state statutes, common elements exist:
 The wrongful taking of personal property
 From the person or in the person’s presence
 Against the person’s will by force or threat of force
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11. Responding to a Robbery-in-Progress Call
ALL-UNITS RESPONSE
• Proceed rapidly, but use caution
• Assume robbers at scene
• Be prepared for gunfire
• Look for/immobilize getaway vehicle
• Avoid hostage situation if possible
• Make immediate arrest if possible
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12. Hostage Situations
OVERVIEW
• Average length is approximately 12 hours
• Special weapons and tactics (SWAT) teams and crisis
negotiation teams (CNTs)
• Main priority is to preserve life
• Stockholm syndrome
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13. Preliminary Investigation
and Special Challenges
CHALLENGES FOR INVESTIGATORS
• Lag time in reporting a robbery
• Speed of its occurrence
• Traumatizing effect on victims and witnesses
• Nature of stolen items
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14. Proving the Elements of the Offense
ELEMENTS OF ROBBERY
• Taking of property
• Who is the legal owner?
• Was property taken or intended to be taken?
 From the person or in the presence of the person
 By force or the threat of force
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15. The Complete Investigation
IDENTIFYING THE SUSPECT
• General appearance
• Clothing
• Disguises
• Weapon
• Vehicle
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16. The Complete Investigation
ESTABLISHING MODUS OPERANDI
• Type of robbery and time
• Method of attack and weapon
• Number of robbers
• Voice and words
• Vehicles used
• Peculiarities and objects sought
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17. The Complete Investigation
PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
• Minimal at robbery scene
• Surveillance cameras
MAPPING ROBBERY
• Inherently serial
• Global Information Software
(GIS) mapping capabilities
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18. False Robbery Reports
INDICATORS
• Unusual delay in reporting
• Amount of the loss not fitting victim’s financial status
• Lack of correspondence with the physical evidence
• Improbable events
• Exceptionally detailed or vague description of offender
• Lack of cooperation
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19. Summary
• Robbery is the felonious taking of another’s property
• Robberies are classified as either residential,
commercial, street or vehicle-driver
• Bank robberies are within the jurisdiction of the FBI
• Prove each element of robbery separately
• Obtain information about the suspect’s general
appearance, clothing, disguises and vehicle
Hess 12-19