ARMED ROBBERY

Armed Robbery

Armed Robbery

Introduction

How do some people decide to commit a armed robbery? Do they think about the benefits and the risks? Why do some people commit armed robberys regardless of the consequences? Why do others never commit a armed robbery, no matter how desperate their circumstances? Criminology is the study of armed robbery and criminals by specialists called criminologists. Criminologists study what causes armed robbery and how it might be prevented.

What causes people to commit Armed Robbery?

Throughout history people have tried to explain what causes abnormal social behavior, including armed robbery. Efforts to control "bad" behavior go back to ancient Babylon's Code of Hammurabi some 3,700 years ago. Later in the seventeenth century European colonists in North America considered armed robbery and sin the same thing. They believed evil spirits possessed those who did not conform to social norms or follow rules. To maintain social order in the settlements, persons who exhibited antisocial behavior had to be dealt with swiftly and often harshly. (Allen, 2005, 18)

By the twenty-first century criminologists looked to a wide range of factors to explain why a person would commit armed robberys.

Usually a combination of these factors is behind a person who commits a armed robbery. Reasons for committing a armed robbery include greed, anger, (Allen, 2005, 18) jealously, revenge, or pride. Some people decide to commit a armed robbery and carefully plan everything in advance to increase gain and decrease risk. These people are making choices about their behavior; some even consider a life of armed robbery better than a regular job—believing armed robbery brings in greater rewards, admiration, and excitement—at least until they are caught. Others get an adrenaline rush when successfully carrying out a dangerous armed robbery. Others commit armed robberys on impulse, out of rage or fear. The desire for material gain (money or expensive belongings) leads to property armed robberys such as robberies, burglaries, white-collar armed robberys, and auto thefts. The desire for control, revenge, or power leads to violent armed robberys such as murders, assaults, and rapes. These violent armed robberys usually occur on impulse or the spur of the moment when emotions run high. Property armed robberys are usually planned in advance. (Allen, 2005, 18)

Routine activity theory

(Griew, 2006) discusses how changes in what he describe as the “routine activities” of society's members - the provision of food, shelter, leisure, work, child-rearing, and sexual outlets - have impacted on the levels of crime where one or more persons directly take or damage the person or property of another. These offences are more formally known as direct contact predatory crimes and include, for example, mugging, burglary and car theft. It is argued that the routine activities of the populace influence the rates of these criminal acts by impacting on the convergence in time and space, of the three elements required for a crime to occur. These elements consist of a likely offender, a suitable target, and the absence of a capable guardian, who, if present, would be in a position to ...