NCJ Number
124583
Journal
Environment and Behavior Volume: 22 Issue: 2 Dated: (March 1990) Pages: 255-271
Date Published
1990
Length
17 pages
Annotation
A study investigated the relationship between physical and social environmental factors and convenience store robbery.
Abstract
Data were based on 30 randomly selected convenience stores in Leon County (Fla.), archived police data on convenience store robberies that occurred between January 1981 and December 1984, and 1980 census tract data. Findings showed that environmental factors do not influence whether or not a store will be robbed, but do influence the frequency and severity. Parking lot size, degree of social disorganization, hours of operation, and availability of gas service were all important environmental factors. Offenders differ in their assessments of the vulnerability of a given store. Novice offenders, unable to distinguish between high- and low-risk targets, are less likely than others to be deterred by indirect strategies such as symbolic barriers and surveillance. 4 notes, 3 tables, and 64 references.