NCJ Number
83514
Date Published
Unknown
Length
6 pages
Annotation
Trends in robbery of Japanese financial institutions are compared to such trends in selected foreign countries, and the circumstances of the offenses and the characteristics of the offenders are discussed, followed by descriptions of effective countermeasures against such offenses.
Abstract
The financial institutions considered include banks, post offices, credit unions, agricultural cooperative associations, and fisheries cooperative companies, but exclude security dealers and consumer loan companies. Known robberies of such institutions in Japan have increased the past 2 years, reaching 150 in 1980 (6.8 percent of all robbery cases for that year). This compares favorably with such robberies in the United States, France, and the German Federal Republic. This particular research in Japan is based on a sample of 188 cases which occurred nationwide from January 1, 1979, to June 30, 1980. Most of the offenses occurred just before or just after the close of business, with Monday and Friday being the robbers' favored days and December the favored month. Most of the institutions targeted were in residential areas outside the central city. A total of 68.1 percent of the offenders were arrested. Most offenders were age 25 or over, with about half being unemployed, 12.5 percent previously imprisoned, and 15.6 percent with a previous record. The principal motive for the offenses was repayment of a loan. Ninety-five of the 128 offenders were sentenced to prison at forced labor. Prevention of such offenses should include a high clearance rate, improvement of protective measures by the financial institutions, severe punishment of offenders, and general publication of the low amounts of money taken in such robberies.