Transit stops, Robbery, and Routine Activities: Examining Street Robbery

Robbery: background of the crime Robbery represents an offense that has traditionally struck fear in the heart of the American public (Cao and Maume p.11). The crime involves the use of violence, or threat of such action, in order to coerce one into surrendering his or her property. The textbook definition of robbery is stated as “the felonious and forcible taking from the person of another goods or money to any value by violence or putting him in fear ” (Adler et al. p.29). Being the victim of such an action is most probably a terrifying experience. In addition to the citizenry, law enforcement also acknowledges the seriousness of this offense. This fact evidences in the FBI classifying the crime as a Part I offense in the Uniformed Crime Report. The danger of robbery lies in its potential to transform into more serious, and harmful, crime. If violence manifests during the robbery attempt, other crimes such as shootings, assaults or, in the worst cases, homicides could result. Needless to say, victims face grave danger in these situations. However, danger is not restricted to the immediate robbery victims. Third parties, whether attempting to intervene or simpl