15 th Annual Problem-Oriented Policing Conference

1. 15th Annual Problem-Oriented Policing Conference Charlotte, North Carolina October 28, 2004 to October 30, 2004

2. Robberies at Convenience Stores, Gas Stations and Fast Food Restaurants:Analyzing Stop and Robs

3. Presenters • Jay W. Malcan, Ph.D. • Director, Community Policing Training • Richmond Police Department • Dean, School of Arts & Sciences • Virginia Union University

4. Presenters • Brad Koch • Homicide Detective • Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department

5. A Macro Analysis of Robberies at Convenience StoresGas StationsFast Food Restaurants Jay W. Malcan, Ph.D.

6. Four Dimensions of VictimizationRisk of Interest to Us • Criminological Theory • Public Policy • Research & Crime Analysis • Crime Prevention Practices

7. Criminological Theory • CPTED – C. Ray Jeffery • Broken Windows – Kelling & Wilson • Routine Activities – Ron Clarke • Hot Spots – Larry Sherman

8. Routine Activities Changes in the routine activities of our daily life can increase or decrease the risk of criminal victimization.

9. Public Policy How do routine activities shaped by public policy impact patterns of victimization at specific locations?

10. How Does Public Policy Shape Crime?

11. How Does Public Policy Shape Crime? • Crime in liquor stores – Virginia vs. D.C.? • Crime at gas stations – Virginia vs. N.J.?

12. How Does Public Policy Shape Crime in Virginia? • Liquor Stores • State Stores vs. Private Stores • Gas Stations • Self-Service Gas vs. Full Service Gas

13. Research & Crime Analysis

14. Sherman • Hot Spots of Predatory Crime: Routine Activities and the Criminology of Place • Research in Minneapolis • Police Calls for Service • 3% of places account for 50% of all calls • 2.2% of places account for ALL robberies

15. Virginia Crime Commission • Spring 1989 • Testimony by Caruthers Sisters

16. Study Mandate Are Convenience Stores an “At Risk Business” ?

18. Questions To Be Answered • Had other people around the country looked at convenience store crime ? • Was the convenience store problem in Virginia the same as across the country ?

19. Considerable Research on Convenience Store Crime • Crow & Bull • Hunter • Jeffery • Gainseville / Swanson, Clifton, Callahan • Murdaugh & Gilmore

20. Research Indicated that Convenience Stores are an ‘At Risk Business’

22. 1988 – 1989 DCJS Statewide Survey Found • 69% of violent events in convenience stores occurred during night time hours of operation (9PM – 5 AM) • 76% of violent events involved clerks working alone

23. 63 % of lone clerks involved in events were women • 65 % of violent events clustered in 10 localities

25. 1988 – 89 DCJS Survey 54 % of all convenience store robberies in Virginia (N=469) involved only 169 stores

26. NACS & DCJS Studies • 80 % of stores don’t experience a violent crime in 2 years • 20% experience a violent event in 2 year period • 7 % experience multiple events in 2 year period

27. Multiple Violent Events at One Location (Hot Spot)ARE NOT RANDOM !

28. Importance of Robberies • Zimring (1986) • 1 homicide occurs for every 100 robberies with a firearm • 1 : 100 ratio Source: Victim Injury and Death in Urban Robbery: A Chicago Study

31. Two DCJS Studies Led to Study with National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health (NIOSH)

32. NIOSH Virginia Study • 14 cities & counties • 438 robberies • Site visits to robbed store & 3 control stores

36. 2003 Crimes By Location LocationRobberyHomicide Gas Station 178 0 Liquor Store 1 0 C-Store 480 7 SOURCE: 2003 Crime in Virginia

37. Virginia Convenience Store Robberies: 1983 = 483 1991 = 724 1995 = 408 1999 = 260 2003 = 480 SOURCE: 1983 - 2003 Crime in Virginia

38. Rugala (FBI) “Majority of workplace homicide is result of robbery.”

39. Virginia Convenience Stores HOMICIDES 2002 = 4 2003 = 7 SOURCE: 2002 & 2003 Crime in Virginia

40. Importance of Robberies • Zimring (1986) • 1 homicide occurs for every 100 robberies with a firearm • 1 : 100 ratio Source: Victim Injury and Death in Urban Robbery: A Chicago Study

41. Crime Prevention Practice • TRAINING • CPTED • BROKEN WINDOWS

42. DCJS / NIOSH StudySherri Johnson – VCU Thesis • Most powerful predictors of convenience stores with multiple violent crimes • Litter • Graffiti

43. Buerger • The Crime Prevention Casebook: Securing High Crime Locations • About high call for service locations in Minneapolis • Great example of blending crime prevention, crime analysis & problem-oriented policing to deal with problem locations

44. Real Opportunity Is: Identify Your Hotspots! • Use your crime analysis • Use your own statistics • Use your intuition

45. A Local Analysis of Robberies at Convenience StoresGas Stations Fast Food Restaurants Brad Koch

46. Routine Activities Theory • Predatory crime occurs when three things come together in time and space: • Motivated Offender • Suitable Target • Absence of Capable Guardians

47. Routine Activities Theory Businesses can reduce their risks of victimization by becoming less suitable targets and/or increased levels of guardianship.

48. Becoming Less Suitable Targets • Business Operation Characteristics • Fewer days of operation • Fewer hours of operation • Physical Environment Characteristics • Low amount of cash in register • ATM on premises • Target Hardening Devices • Drop safe with sign • Alarm

49. Increasing Guardianship • Business Operation Characteristics • Increased number of employees on 3rd shift • Physical Environment Characteristics • Unobstructed windows • Public waiting area • Target Hardening Devices • Video cameras • Security guard • Police officer on site

50. Background • Charlotte, North Carolina is located in Mecklenburg County • Over 600,000 live in city of Charlotte • Over 800,000 live in Mecklenburg County • Population grows by approximately 3% each year • Mecklenburg County has 7 police agencies • Charlotte ranks as the 21st largest city