Summary CMY3706 - Contemporary Criminological issues Study Notes

CMY3706
Unit 1: Aggravated Robbery

Introduction:
● Aggravated robbery instils more fear in communities than other criminal offences.
● Contact crime: crime category under which SAPS classifies aggravated robbery


3 Types of Aggravated Robberies:
● Robbery at residential premises
● Carjacking
● Robbery at non-residential premises
● {Trio crimes}


1.2 Contextualisation of concept Aggravated Robbery:
● Robbery: (theft by violence) includes unlawful + intentional use of violence to take
property belonging to someone else


Characteristics of Robbery:
● Unlawful + intentional act
● Theft of property (eg. motor vehicle)
● Use of violence (eg. using weapon) / threats of violence (eg. victim believes life is in
danger)
● Causal link between violence + taking of property


● Robbery = contact crime category
● Contact crime: crimes where victim is direct target / victim’s property targeted in
presence of victim + he/she threatened with use of violence / violence used
● Contact crimes include:
○ Murder
○ Attempted murder
○ Sexual offences
○ Assault
○ Grievous bodily harm
○ Common assault
○ Common robbery
○ Aggravated robbery
● Robbery with aggravated circumstances = aggravated robbery

,CMY3706
Unit 1: Aggravated Robbery

Introduction:
● Aggravated robbery instils more fear in communities than other criminal offences.
● Contact crime: crime category under which SAPS classifies aggravated robbery


3 Types of Aggravated Robberies:
● Robbery at residential premises
● Carjacking
● Robbery at non-residential premises
● {Trio crimes}


1.2 Contextualisation of concept Aggravated Robbery:
● Robbery: (theft by violence) includes unlawful + intentional use of violence to take
property belonging to someone else


Characteristics of Robbery:
● Unlawful + intentional act
● Theft of property (eg. motor vehicle)
● Use of violence (eg. using weapon) / threats of violence (eg. victim believes life is in
danger)
● Causal link between violence + taking of property


● Robbery = contact crime category
● Contact crime: crimes where victim is direct target / victim’s property targeted in
presence of victim + he/she threatened with use of violence / violence used
● Contact crimes include:
○ Murder
○ Attempted murder
○ Sexual offences
○ Assault
○ Grievous bodily harm
○ Common assault
○ Common robbery
○ Aggravated robbery
● Robbery with aggravated circumstances = aggravated robbery

, The Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 defines Aggravated Circumstances as:
● Any offence (under common law/statutory provision) of housebreaking / attempted
housebreaking with intent to commit offence, means-
○ Possession of dangerous weapon
○ Commision of assault / threat to commit assault by offender / accomplice on
occasion when offence committed (before, during or after commission of
offence)
● Robbery / attempted robbery, means -
○ Wielding of firearm/ dangerous weapon
○ Infliction of grievous bodily harm
○ Threat to inflict grievous bodily harm


● Aggravated Robbery (May): premeditated aggressive/violent behaviour with motive
of taking unauthorised items through means of aggression/weapons (firearms/any
sharp object/tool that can cause injury/death) + as violation of judicial system of
certain society + human beings’ right to safety + protection.


Subcategories of robbery with aggravated circumstances:
● Car hijacking
● Robbery at residential premises
● Robbery at non-residential premises
● Cash-in-transit (CIT) robbery
● Bank robbery
● Truck hijacking


Trio crimes:
● Car hijacking
● Robbery at residential premises
● Robbery at non-residential premises


Reason for focusing of 4 types of aggravated robberies:
● 2006 - SAPS - priority status = trio crimes, dure to dramatic increasing trend
● 2007 National Victims of Crime Survey (VOCS) - trio crime = priority status,
in comparison to previous years, more people victimised through robberies
● VOCS participants more afraid of being robbed/ house breaking than other
crimes, including mureder + sexual assualt (it is the most feared crime!)
● SA citizens more concerned about nature of trio crimes = occur in places they
should feel safest ( their homes, work, vehicle)
● Victims of trio crimes highly traumatised = crimes extremely violent +
accompanied with murder, assualt with grievious bodily harm


● CIT robbery = aggravated robbery

, ● CIT crime is uncontrollable epidemic, no cure
● Criminals force armoured vehicles (AV) open by blowing up with explosives =
endangers security guards protecting cash + innocent individuals in vicinity of crime
scene


● Zinn - serious implications of trio crimes + CIT robberies:
○ Victims = feelings of insecurity, physical injury, emotional trauma + loss of
property)
○ Negative public response
○ International condemnation
○ = most serious crimes SAPS has to deal with


1.3 Nature + Extent of Aggravated Robbery:
Table 1.1: Robbery with aggravating circumstances (trio crimes excluding truck hijacking)

Subcategories April 2018 – March April 2019 – March 2020 Increase/ decreases in actual % increase/ decreases
of aggravated 2019 cases
robbery

Robbery at 22 431 21 130 - 1 301 Decrease of 5,8%
Residential
premises


Carjacking 16 026 18 162 +2 136 Increase of 13,3%


Robbery at 19 991 20 651 +660 Increase of 3,3%
non-residential
premises



1.3.1 Robbery at Residential Premises
● House robbery = violent crime, committed while occupants are home.
● See stats on page 11 - 12


1.3.2 Carjacking
● Carjacking: unlawful + intentional forceful removal + appropriation of motor vehicle
belong to another.
● Truck hijacking: unlawful + intentional forceful removal + appropriation of truck
(not light delivery vehicles) belonging to another
● Stats on page 12


1.3.3 Robbery at non-residential premises