NCJ Number
216866
Journal
European Journal on Criminal Policy and Research Volume: 12 Issue: 1 Dated: 2006 Pages: 49-60
Date Published
2006
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This study presents an overview of the characteristics of recent robberies in Prague and a detailed analysis of a select sample of these robberies.
Abstract
Results indicate that since 1999, robberies in Prague have been on the rise. A total of 1,732 robberies were recorded in Prague during 2003. Police cleared 539 of these cases. Victims were lone males in 58.4 percent of cases and lone females in 34.6 percent of cases. Of those attacked alone, 31.5 percent were between the ages of 20 and 30 years. The detailed analysis revealed that robberies occurred mainly in public spaces (64 percent of cases), followed by commercial or service spaces. Most victims were in isolated areas and the seriousness of the robbery incident depended on the actual contact between the offender and the victim. In 49 of the 58 cases that were analyzed in-depth, there was physical contact between the victim and the offender, with violence being used in some cases. Researchers reviewed police records for all recorded robberies in Prague from 1973 through 2003. An in-depth analysis of the characteristics of 58 of these robberies was also conducted. Basic descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. Future research should focus on the effectiveness of individual prevention measures currently being adopted in Prague. Figures, footnotes, references