In the world today, many people have experienced armed robbery. For many of these persons, the story resonates along the same lines. When approached, they had to surrender all their belongings to the perpetrator as there was a threat to their health or well-being. Many individuals have tried to understand the various situations that have driven people to engage in an armed robbery. However, the art of the crime has never really been explored. Many criminals in prison cells will confess to having an urgent situation which ultimately led them to engage in the offense. However, not many have had to tell the story of how it is done. ‘Armed robbers in Action: Stickups and street culture' is a book written by Richard T. Wright and Scott H. Decker. It was published through the North-eastern University Press in 1997 and reprinted in 2011 (Wright & Decker, 2011). Since it was published to date, the book has attracted a lot of attention due to the content portrayed and the illumination it gives to the area of armed robbery from the perpetrators perspective. It aids the reader to understand the art of armed robbery and the various techniques and methods that are employed by the criminals to ensure success during the process. In the paper below, an adequate summary of the book and the ideas presented in it is provided based on a chapter by chapter summary.
The first chapter "Studying Active Armed Robbers," of the book is the introduction of the book and the whole procedure used in acquiring information. The chapter is divided into sections, with each section giving a specific step in the research process. From The authors have presented the book in a manner equivalent to providing findings of research conducted (Wright & Decker, 2011). The author explains the process used to acquire the information presented in the book by interviewing criminals charged with armed robbery as an offense and those who are still at large. To ensure that the target population was well represented, the authors took the population of criminals and selected a sample population (Wright & Decker, 2011). A sampling process was initiated. The author's sought-after criminals still at large, currently apprehended and through referrals from those interviewed. They describe the process of attaining interviewees where they had to visit the prisoners and engage in extensive fieldwork to identify active armed robbers. They also explained the significant challenges experienced in both the research methods. The active criminals were apprehensive about participating in the interviews as most of them were concerned for their security (Wright & Decker, 2011). The same applied to those in prison who preferred to keep the information to themselves lest they are denied bail or early release (Wright & Decker, 2011). To gauge cooperation, the following strategies were used by the authors as explained. Many of the criminals who resisted to the interviews, especially those out in the field were paid. Others participated because they had been convinced by the author's contact persons that it was in their best interest to speak to them. Others were lured in by the mention of the research findings being published in a book. The offenders viewed publication as a great acknowledgment of their current status in the streets. The field team also mentioned that the criminals were already spending time talking about their criminal exploits and thus this way provided a safer way of talking about the subject, and it would also serve as therapeutic purposes (Wright & Decker, 2011).
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The authors also mentioned the process which they used to ensure the offenders being interviewed were comfortable. To ensure the results presented were authentic, the authors describe the various techniques they employed. First, by ensuring they did not try to act as offenders and insiders, second by negotiating a written agreement with the chief of the Police Station to guarantee no interference from police officers would be experienced. Thirdly, they ensured they had safety mechanisms in place where the research placed them in dangerous areas. Another technique employed was to ensure they presented adequate identification where they were mistaken for police informants (Wright & Decker, 2011).
The second Chapter, “Deciding to Commit an Armed Robbery,” gives an insight to the various reasons to which people decide to engage in an armed robbery as an option and not any other form of offense. The authors identify that most armed robbers are young, poor, black and male. To understand why these characteristics are often viewed in this category of persons, the researchers identified that it is due to the perceptual process, where it is believed to yield immediate results. The chapter seeks to illuminate the process where a person moves from an unmotivated state to a motivated state where they are willing to participate in an armed robbery (Wright & Decker, 2011).
The researchers identified that for most, it is the pressing need for money needed to satisfy an immediate requirement as the reason driving them to armed robbery. The need arising at the time can be due to a variety of factors. For instance, where one is presented with an opportunity they could not resists, even where they do not require the money immediately. Where the offenders do not let their financial reserves to run too low. Where the offenders want to acquire substances which lead to sensory stimulation such as gambling, drug use and drinking (Wright & Decker, 2011). The authors also identified armed robbery is considered where the offenders need to attain status-enhancing items which enable them to keep a particular appearance. This can be seen where an individual purchases clothes, expensive shoes, electronics and other devices. Another reason is where the offender needs to maintain their livelihood and thus pay their expenses. Additionally, offenders identified armed robbery as safer than all other crimes such as burglary and doping (Wright & Decker, 2011). For most, however, an armed robbery was easier than working for a living. Many of the described factors are fuelled by the fact that offenders are living out their lives in the streets (Wright & Decker, 2011).
A major factor that was identified to fuel any of the above motives was during periods where the offender was engaged in stimulation practices such as drinking that aids in self-reflection. Offenders realize the cyclic nature of their lives and hence are driven to act in a certain manner (Wright & Decker, 2011). For instance, where a person is displaying their wealth in their sight. The offenders take this as a crime that deserves immediate punishment. The above reasons are founded on the nature of life that can be attained in the streets. There is no obligations or commitments advertised within the streets. Hence, many people will be concentrating on themselves as a means to an end (Wright & Decker, 2011). They will concentrate on making themselves happy. Due to this, they will be easily susceptible to certain feelings that can ultimately lead to armed robbery.
The third chapter, “Choosing the Target,” gives an insight as to how perpetrators select the persons to rob. The perpetrators at this stage have already made up their mind to commit an armed robbery. Hence they must identify a suitable candidate, fast enough to let them resume their daily life, and also with caution to ensure they are not at risk themselves (Wright & Decker, 2011).
One of the victims who met these criteria included street robberies of fellow offenders or crime victims. The majority identified as good targets were drug dealers. Other persons who formed perfect targets were the drug customers. Both the drug dealer and customer were unlikely to report their activities to the police officers. Another category of persons who fit the description if lawbreakers such as business persons seeking the services of prostitutes. The persons most targeted in this category are married men (Wright & Decker, 2011). Another area identified which met the above criteria was during gang fights, street dice games, and members of opposing gangs. For non-criminal victims, the offenders searched for a suitable area to perform an armed robbery, and then looked for a candidate within that area. In this chapter, the author gives a detailed explanation of the various constraints which lead to the selection of an area and a victim, taking into account current physical, mental, lawful, demographic and psychological factors. For instance, where an individual will consider robbing a person near an area with large public housing to get away easily. Where an offender selects a victim based on their race and how they are portrayed to have finances (Wright & Decker, 2011). Where the offender selects a residential area, then they are guaranteed of a certain caliber of people and their possessions. Most of all, however, the offenders searched for victims who presented them with a low-risk chance of being caught, killed, injured or un-cooperation. For instance, elderly persons proved to be successful targets as they posed little risk of opposition (Wright & Decker, 2011).
In Chapter four, “Committing the offense,” the authors give the process through which the robbers carry out the stick-up, or robbery. Under the title ‘The illusion of Impending Death,' the authors give the readers details on how the offenders' take control of the situations to guarantee the success of the robbery. They do so through three stages. First, by approaching the victims without raising any suspicions or head on; this ensures that the victims are unable to resists or oppose the robbers (Wright & Decker, 2011). After which, they announce the robbery to the victims; this guarantees the irrevocability of the offense. Once they have done so, the offenders proceed to take the goods or cash from the victims; this is the most difficult stage and is proceeded with care. After they have done all these, then they proceed to escape. The chapter highlights the various risks that are associated with the above steps and how most of the offenders navigate through the challenges posed by the above process. After they have successfully committed an armed robbery, the authors provided a section where they address consequences of handling legal threats and handling the guilt after the fact (Wright & Decker, 2011).
The fifth chapter of the book, “Preventing Armed Robbery,” explains ways through which armed robbery can be remedied (Wright & Decker, 2011). The author starts off by explaining the toll the research had on them and from that presenting the readers with the general truth that armed robberies are feared by everyone. The authors in this chapter provide various solutions that can be implemented and consequently lead to the depletion of armed robbery. The fist is job creation (Wright & Decker, 2011). Under this, the authors urge that it is due to lack of employment that offenders participate in the armed robbery and hence, job creation would be a solution. The second solution is deterrence through incapacitation. This involves imprisoning the culprits for longer periods of time which would ultimately deter them from such crimes (Wright & Decker, 2011). The third solution is reducing victim vulnerability by engaging in various tactics that would better deter the robbers from approaching them. The fourth is situational change as a strategy to change the situational characteristics that ultimately make stickups possible. For instance, the elimination of cash from the economy and favouring debit or credit cards (Wright & Decker, 2011).
Through the above research, it is clear how differently armed robbers think and the various motivations that lead them to act in a certain manner. Law enforcers from the above are provided with an insight as to why armed robbery frequents and what results in its increase rather than decrease. The boom has also given an insight into the nature of the society that ultimately leads to certain events. For instance, it is through robbery between gang members that crime rates continue increasing in specific neighborhoods. The book provides an apparent perspective of armed robbery and the effort it takes to ensure it is successful. Through it, certain changes can be employed to better the society and decrease armed robbery.
Reference
Wright, R. T., & Decker, S. H. (2011). Armed Robbers in Action: Stickups and Street Culture . Boston: Northeastern University Press. Retrieved from https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/Digitization/173837NCJRS.pdf
