Armed Robbery in Action
Introduction
Armed robbery is one of the most feared crimes among murder and rape. It poses a very severe threat of death or injury and it has been a great challenge to law enforcers and the society as whole. Less can be done on armed robbery issues since little is known about the key factors that usually lead to robbers who use crude weapons to take peoples’ property by force. However, Richard Wright and Scott Decker the authors of the book” Armed Robbers in Action” seems to have obtained the answers to questions most people ask on armed robberies. The two authors conducted a critical field study on St. Louis Street in order to obtain crucial information and responses from perpetrators of armed robberies (Wright & Decker, 10-47).
The information they are seeking to get are the methods the robbers use to commit the crime, their motives as well as how the criminals choose their targets. The two also visited a number of scenes of crime in order to scrutinize why the robbers prefer some place to others. They also examined the setting of the scene which in actual sense contributed to the crime. Evidently, the authors engaged the offenders into live conversations so as to highlight the circumstances which make them to engage into armed robbery, investigated how the armed robbers chose they targets and the strategies they employed in order to remain in crime. The authors analyses the perspective of the criminals, a clear understanding of the crime as well as the social situation. Evidently, the book also seeks to highlight the reasons as to why criminals would actually rob someone at gun point, why a person engages in crime gang and what it feels like to rob someone. The book also highlights measures which should be put in place so as to put off armed robbery. These measures include creation of jobs, situational alteration, deterrence as well as reducing the victim’s exposure to crime (Wright & Decker, 10-47).
Important Reasons for Robbery
The active armed robbers interviewed by Richard and Scott had different responses on the reasons that motivate them to commit armed robberies. Their answers were quite intriguing but they essentially had a common base. Some of the reasons the criminal cited as key motivators were:
Pressing need for money
Idleness
Families
Opportunities that seemed good to pass up
Open-ended quest for excitements
Sensory stimulation
Distinctive lifestyles
Frustration and anger
Social setting
Other people’s wealth
The street culture
Poverty
However, according to the number of armed robbers interviewed, the most important reason why they indulged in criminal activities is money. Money is actually the reason for survival,” it aint no joke now, it is survival”. Some of the interviewees claimed to have families which they needed to take care of. It is evident that money is the predominant reason that motivates them into engaging in crimes. It is worth noting that, criminals can be motivated to steal when their pockets are empty as well as when they have money and they would not allow their cash flow to run dry.
Notably others rob because they have seen and witnessed a person put a lot of cash in the pocket and the desire to get that money is uncontrollable. Nevertheless, others rob to get enough money to indulge into illicit action such as drinking, drug abuse as well as gambling,” I like to mix and I like to get high. You can’t get high broke”. Festivities are another reason why people would rob in order to get enough cash to go partying. In addition, others would rob for monetary reasons not because they badly need it but for reasons that others have it in plenty. This gives a notion that the wealthy have no extra expenses and due to the fact that, they would not give the money out, the robbers thinks that it is wise taking it by force,” I do the people that drive their fancy cars and their be on their phones, they high-catting, you know, like they got all this…them the ones I get”. Money is therefore the most important reason why armed robbers are motivated into robbing (Wright & Decker, 10-47).
The points that the armed robbers are trying to drive home are of great importance and should be taken with much attention. I truly understand the reasons the armed robbers raised as their key motivators. It is true that money is a motivator in every aspect of life. Their reasons are understandable but are however not justifiable. This is because, there are other many legal alternatives and channels one can get money through, rather than engaging into armed robbery. Although there are a number of situations which can lead to indulgence in crime such as high unemployment rates, social status and poverty, hurting or injuring others should not be entertained since there are other way for searching for a good livelihood through the right channels
To some extent I would empathize with armed robbers but I would not identify with them. It is quite unfortunate that they have to go through many temptations and threatening situations with the law enforcers, mob justice as well as their own victims. In the book, a number of them have bullet wounds, some got deformities while trying to escape while others died in the hands of their own victims (Wright & Decker, 10-47).This is very sad but on the other hand, I would never support their actions. It is evident that armed robbers go through a lot of suffering but the question is, how about their victims who they rob at gun point?
Lessons Learnt
The book is fun and entertaining but there is much to learn from it. Survival is a must but people should not attempt to survive the hard way. A legitimate way of earning a living is the best option due to the fact that the consequences are not harsh like those from an armed robbery. Armed robbers constantly put their lives at risk through their actions as well as bear the harsh consequences that come with their dealings. It is worth noting that our day to day actions comes with a heavy price and criminals should be prepared for it. From the book, we are made to understand that a number of armed robbers interviewed were later arrested and convicted. This indicates that there is no crime that will ever go unpunished. Everyone has to pay a price for his or her actions (Wright & Decker, 10-47).
Conclusion
Richard and Scott took a life threatening tasks of engaging into live chats with active armed robbers. Their main mission was to highlight criminal perspectives as well suggest measures to curb the raising cases of crime. Their research is essential since it gives a clear understanding of armed robbery. It is therefore evident that the book contents are beneficial to victims of robbery, robbers, law enforcers, and society as whole as well as those aspiring to be robbers since it has important lessons to learn.
Work cited
Wright, R., Decker, S., Armed Robbers in Action, Northeastern University Press, 1997, pp.10- 112
