Modus operandi of robbers:
Types of robbers
Amateur robbers
The largest group of known commercial robbers.
Engage in limited planning
Seem unaware of the consequences
Target small amounts of money (select more accessible targets)
Lack experience
They tend to work individually.
Have a record of “failed” / “attempted” robberies
Robberies appear as acts of desperation (need cash to pay of depts, buy
merchandise or to support/ maintain a drug habit)
Intermediate robbers
This type of a robber falls in-between the amateur and the professional armed
robber
reasonable degree of planning,
long histories of criminal participation and
greater readiness to carry firearms,
less drug-related motivation.
2 sub-groups:
1. Criminal diversifiers:
a. Engagement in robbery is more sporadic and mix robber with other types
of crime
b. Tend to be in their late teens / early 20s when send to prison
c. Do not identify themselves as robbers but as general-purpose criminals
who engaged in commercial robbery when the opportunity arose.
d. They usually act on information and tips received or are invited to partake
in a robbery planned by others
e. They belief they are more protected and have a slim chance of being
identified by police because they moved around different criminal
syndicates.
2. Criminal developers:
a. Criminals in a transitional phase; regard themselves as becoming more
serious and experienced criminals.
b. Progress form petty crimes to more serious and advanced crimes.
c. They have ambitions of becoming more professional and consider more
demanding targets.
d. Motivating factors: the promise of joining the “big time” and progressing
from petty crime to more attractive targets.
Professional and persistent robbers
Small and elite group
Robbery is a career and lifestyle.
Dedication to crime
Perspective of oneself as a career robber or villain
Types of robbers
Amateur robbers
The largest group of known commercial robbers.
Engage in limited planning
Seem unaware of the consequences
Target small amounts of money (select more accessible targets)
Lack experience
They tend to work individually.
Have a record of “failed” / “attempted” robberies
Robberies appear as acts of desperation (need cash to pay of depts, buy
merchandise or to support/ maintain a drug habit)
Intermediate robbers
This type of a robber falls in-between the amateur and the professional armed
robber
reasonable degree of planning,
long histories of criminal participation and
greater readiness to carry firearms,
less drug-related motivation.
2 sub-groups:
1. Criminal diversifiers:
a. Engagement in robbery is more sporadic and mix robber with other types
of crime
b. Tend to be in their late teens / early 20s when send to prison
c. Do not identify themselves as robbers but as general-purpose criminals
who engaged in commercial robbery when the opportunity arose.
d. They usually act on information and tips received or are invited to partake
in a robbery planned by others
e. They belief they are more protected and have a slim chance of being
identified by police because they moved around different criminal
syndicates.
2. Criminal developers:
a. Criminals in a transitional phase; regard themselves as becoming more
serious and experienced criminals.
b. Progress form petty crimes to more serious and advanced crimes.
c. They have ambitions of becoming more professional and consider more
demanding targets.
d. Motivating factors: the promise of joining the “big time” and progressing
from petty crime to more attractive targets.
Professional and persistent robbers
Small and elite group
Robbery is a career and lifestyle.
Dedication to crime
Perspective of oneself as a career robber or villain
