Robbery is a Robbery is a Robbery? Assessing the Qualitative Nature of Robberies in Official Police Data

• In Event: Communities and Place: Environmental Criminology

Abstract

Environmental criminology theories suggest different crime types will have different opportunity structures. To date, however, researchers have predominantly relied on legal classifications when conducting environmental criminology research. This study applied qualitative coding techniques to incident reports to understand the underlying nature of robberies in official police data. Over 10 different robbery types emerged from the data, and they did not necessarily coincide with typologies that might be derived from variables common in police records management systems designed to facilitate reporting to the National Incident-Based Reporting System. The presentation will outline these findings in detail and discuss their implications for the collection and analysis official police data.

Authors

• Cory P. Haberman, University of Cincinnati

• Jeffrey E. Clutter, Marywood University

• Heejin Lee, University of Cincinnati