NCJ Number
181208
Journal
British Journal of Criminology Volume: 38 Issue: 2 Dated: Spring 1998 Pages: 230-246
Date Published
1998
Length
17 pages
Annotation
The characteristics of robbers and robberies, including the relationship between the distance traveled from home to the scene of the crime were studied using police records on 434 robberies on commercial targets committed by 585 robbers who were convicted in the Netherlands in 1992.
Abstract
The robbers differed considerably in the distance traveled. The distances ranged from across the street from the robber's home to 166.2 miles. Half of the robberies occurred within 3.5 kilometers of the robber's home. Drug users traveled less than did nonaddicts. Lone robbers stayed close to home. Travel patterns also differed depending on the country of birth; those born in the Netherlands traveled farther than those born elsewhere. Distant robberies were done almost exclusively by car. Robbers did not tend to commit subsequent robberies either closer to home or further away from home. Robbers who were more professional, who attacked more difficult targets, and who perpetrated crimes in more rural areas were more professional than other robbers. The more distant robberies were not more successful than were those perpetrated nearby. However, if the more distant robberies were successful, they generated more proceeds than did the nearby robberies. The major determinant of the distance traveled was the availability of suitable targets. Findings suggested that robbers travel further because they expect more money from specific targets. Thus, findings supported the hypothesis that robbers combine effort minimization and opportunity maximization. Tables, figures, and 35 references (Author abstract modified)