Goal #6 Objective B

---

Objective B:
Without the use of the course text or class notes, the student will identify specific investigative issues relating to robbery.

---

Investigative issues relating to robbery:

Definitions
The People Involved
Physical Evidence
Records and Other Sources of Information
Follow-up Information

Definitions

robbery (UCR) -
The unlawful taking or attempted taking of property that is in the immediate possession of another, by force or threat of force.

Types of robbery

• Armed Robbery
  
• Strong-Armed Robbery
  

Examples of robbery:

• A person enters a store with a gun and demands money from a clerk.
• A person is driving a car, presently stopped in traffic, is approached by a man displaying a knife. The man demands the car and orders the person out of the car. The person complies and the knife wielding man leaves in the car.
  

The People Involved
Victims and witnesses

Robbery victimization is related in large part to

• victim's place of residence
  
• victim's occupation
  
• victim's availability as a target
  

Most victim's do not make good witnesses because the situation happens quickly and there is a high degree of stress on the victim's part, distorting their perceptive faculties.

The investigator should be aware that victim/witness perceptions may vary considerably according to what the victim or witness may be used to (i.e., age, height, weight, clothing, etc.).

Investigator will pay attention to "special identifying characteristics," since these will help distinguish one person from another.

Since most robberies are committed by juveniles, the investigator will also pay attention to clothing descriptions since many juveniles continue to wear the same clothing.

Interviewing the victim/witness

• Separate multiple victims and/or witnesses
  
• Ask victim to describe what happened in their own words
  
• Record victim's account in notes
  
• When victim finishes, the investigator should work though specific details
  

Patterns of Robbery Suspects

• Average suspect age is 24
  
• Younger suspects usually operate within 2 miles of home
  
• Blacks (60%) and males (90%) are over represented in arrests statistics
  
• Street and commercial robberies are likely to have little advanced planning
  
• Multiple offenses are likely in a short period of time
  
• The suspect is usually under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of occurrence
  

Robbery suspects should be interrogated only after all other investigative follow-up is completed.

Physical Evidence -
General crime scene protection measures should be employed.

Specific types of physical evidence

• footprints
  
• fingerprints
  
• saliva on discarded face masks
  
• body secretions on fiber evidence
  
• trace material on suspect clothing which can be linked to scene or victim
  
• recovered weapon
  

Records and other sources of information

• Court records
  
• Recent release prison records
  
• Other law enforcement agency records
  
• Other agencies (unemployment offices, schools, housing offices, drug rehab programs)
  
• Credit card companies
  
• Motor vehicle bureau records (photographs)
  
• Other investigators
  
• Information from patrol officers
  
• Informants
  
• Individuals arrested in other cases
  
• Stores where particular weapons can be purchased
  

Follow-up Information -
The investigator should use patterns, geographical locations, types of victims, and the number and characteristics of associates to link crimes and potential suspects.

By linking this information, not only can more crimes be potentially cleared with an arrest, but suspect information can also be combined to perhaps give a more complete picture of the suspect.

---

Continue to Goal #6 - Objective C.
Return to Course Learning Goals Page

---