Getting Answers in the Robbery Scenario

Getting Answers in the Robbery Scenario

1. What theories might you consider about the time and location of this offence?

◦ The fact that the jewellery store is in a strip mall may have been a factor in the robbers

selecting this location as a target. This type of business premises allows for drive by viewing

of the inside of the premises, as well as quick access and exit to the outside parking area.

This location also allows for the suspects to maintain an ongoing look-out for approaching

police response.

◦ The time of the offence could have been intentionally chosen closer to the end of the day on a

Saturday in the hope that more cash would be in the store. Depending on the typical customer

◦ The precision with which the robbery was carried out (e.g. completed in five minutes,

one suspect guarding the door, all persons ordered onto the floor) would indicate a high

level of planning to orchestrate this robbery.

3. How well did these three suspects know each other?

◦ It is very likely that the three suspects knew each other well enough to establish the

level of trust required to carry out the robbery.

◦ The type of goods taken in this robbery, except for the cash, would need to be converted to

cash to be divided up later. This could indicate that a longer term relationship exists

between these robbers.

◦ The planning that is apparent would indicate that the suspects spent some time together to

◦ It appears that all three suspects were wearing similar outfits with dark jackets, blue jeans, and

ski masks. This may indicate that the suspects deliberately purchased specific gear for

committing a crime.

◦ This clothing might be considered somewhat non-descript, and not easily distinguishable or

unique for a witness to accurately or specifically describe the fleeing suspects. The use of

masks and non-descript outfits might indicate that the criminals were experienced.

◦ The fact that they are all wearing jackets on a summer day in August might indicate that they

were covering up tattoos, scars, or other distinguishing features that might otherwise assist in

identifying the suspects.

◦ The fact that all suspects were wearing gloves would indicate that they are aware that any

fingerprints left behind could identify them.

◦ From the overall planning and precision in the execution of the robbery, it might be

theorized that this is not the first robbery that these three have done together. This method

may have been used elsewhere.

8. What might be theorized considering the items taken?

◦ Considering that the items taken were specialty items and that some were marked with

identifying serial numbers, it might be theorized that the robbers have a prearranged or

preplanned means of disposing of the items or otherwise converting them to cash.

Alternately, the fact that they have taken items that are identifiable by serial numbers

may indicate a level of haste or even inexperience because these items, if discovered after

being sold, may be traced back to the robbery suspects.

9. Who else might be involved?

◦ A fourth criminal associate as a get-away driver and lookout.

◦ A customer inside the store, at the time of the robbery, acting as a scout.

◦ A current or former employee of the store may have provided inside information.

◦ The owner/manager of the store could be involved as part of an insurance fraud scheme.

Topic 3: Answers to Possible Theories in the Robbery Scenario

Theory #1

This is a well-planned robbery executed by three or four experienced criminals. In addition to the three

suspects in the store, there might have been an outside get-away driver acting as a lookout. They

intentionally selected this store because of the strip mall location and the easy access to inventory by

Considering the precision of the crime, this is likely not their first robbery of this type. The possession

of handguns also indicates they are likely professional criminals.

Theory #2

As with Theory #1, this is a well-planned robbery executed by three or four experienced criminals;

however, the store was selected because they had an inside person, employee, or former employee

working with them, and were provided with information to assist in the plan.

Theory #3

As with Theory #1, this is a well-planned robbery executed by three or four experienced criminals;

however, the store owner/manager is a conspirator in the robbery, and assisted with the offence to

collect insurance with the possible additional intent to be the person who resells the stolen

• Since it is likely not their first robbery of this kind, we should search police records for other

robberies using this similar modus operandi (MO) in the recent past and in our area and its

surrounding areas. We would be looking for similarities in:

1. Target selection

2. Number of suspects

3. Disguises used

4. Weapons of choice

5. Methodology (i.e. guard at door, making patrons lie down on the floor, bags to carry away

goods)

• Considering the likelihood that these suspects conducted surveillance of this store to select it as a

Theory #2

• Considering the possibility that an inside person, employee, or former employee is involved and

provided the robbers with information, we should look closely into the criminal record and police

record of the employees present at the time of the crime, as well as any other employees or former

employees who can be identified. We are looking for:

1. Evidence of criminal conduct by any employee or former employee

2. Information of any associations between the employees or former employees to

criminals, particularly those with records for robbery

3. Information from the owner/manager about suspicious conduct on the part of an

employee, a past employee, or a disgruntled past employee

1. Any past record of criminal conduct by the owner/manager, particularly insurance fraud

2. A record of association to known criminals

3. A record of insurance policy status on inventory, particularly recent increases

4. Cross-check and verification of product inventories against items alleged to be stolen

5. Verification of accuracy of serial numbers on items stolen against supplier inventory

records.

Topic 5: Validation of the Report

Based on the theories considered in our robbery investigation, everyone present in the jewellery store at

the time of the robbery is being considered a possible suspect. This is a part of analysis and theory

development called validating the report. In criminal investigations, it occurs time and again that

people reporting criminal events will lie, fabricate, or embellish, the facts. These failures to provide an

accurate account of what happened occur for a variety of reasons, including, but not limited to:

a theory of the crime should always consider four key questions to authenticate the crime report:

1. Does the evidence support the report that an offence occurred?

2. If an offence did occur, did it happen at the time being reported?

3. If an offence did occur, did it happen at the place being reported?

4. If an offence did occur, did it happen the way the fact pattern being reported suggests (Arcaro,

Thinking about these questions as part of the Analysis can help the investigator to formulate possible

theories and develop effective investigative plans.

At this point in the investigative process, as theories are developed and tested, additional new facts are

discovered. With the discovery of new facts, the Analysis and Investigation steps of the STAIR tool

mean they can immediately be arrested. Often, these kinds of linkages are sufficient to only provide

and witness statements that demonstrate spatial relationships. Spatial relationships are circumstantial

have practiced examining the fact patterns of events and making the assumptions to drive theory

investigative process and, as such, it is a process that can be enhanced through practice and experience.