NCJ Number
158115
Journal
European Journal on Criminal Policy and Research Volume: 3 Issue: 3 Dated: (1995) Pages: 124-136
Date Published
1995
Length
13 pages
Annotation
The use of crime analysis to address commercial robbery in the Netherlands was demonstrated using two situations: the desire to extend the opening hours of stores and the prevention of crime against taxi drivers.
Abstract
The analyses were conducted by the Commercial Robbery Task Force, created in 1993 and involving cooperation between the government and the business community. The task force used data from the National Robbery Registration System, which contains police-recorded data on nearly all robberies in the country. The analysis of extending store hours revealed that robbers with the choice of daytime or evening hours will choose the evening, regardless of the type of business. In the evening, they prefer a time after 9 p.m. However, the experience of gas stations reveals that the security measures that are now compulsory after 9 p.m. have caused robbers to commit their crimes earlier or not at all. Therefore, the Task Force has projected that an extension of shop hours will not increase robberies, but shops should establish security measures to address the higher risk of robbery during evening hours. The analysis of crime against taxi drivers indicated the need for a minimum set of security measures such as registration of incidents, selection and training of drivers, victim assistance, and standard safety procedures. Recommended technology includes the radiotelephone and the alarm button. A video camera is considered the most effective technical prevention measure. Cooperation with all the taxi companies and a standard procedure for police response to incident reports are also recommended. However, the impacts of security measures versus other events or measures and the potential for crime displacement are not known. Tables and 14 references