What robbers choose to steal is indeed a crucial aspect of their modus operandi and can provide significant insights into their motivations, planning, and overall criminal profile.
1. Cash: This remains the most common target for many robbers due to its universal value and ease of use. However, the specific approach to cash can vary:
* Some robbers might focus only on easily accessible cash, like register contents.
* Others might target safes or vaults, indicating more planning and potentially inside information.
* The amount of cash taken can be telling - some might have a specific target amount, while others take whatever is available.
* Some robbers might specifically target businesses during cash-heavy periods, like after holiday sales.
2. Jewelry and precious metals: These are popular due to their high value-to-size ratio and relative ease of fencing:
* Some robbers might specialize in specific types of jewelry, indicating knowledge of the market.
* Others might focus on raw materials like gold or silver, which are easier to melt down and sell.
* The choice between targeting high-end jewelry stores versus pawn shops can indicate different levels of risk tolerance and expertise.
3. Electronics: Modern robbers often target electronic devices:
* Smartphones are common targets due to their ubiquity and resale value.
* Some might focus on easily portable items like laptops and tablets.
* Others might target shipments or warehouses for bulk electronic goods.
* The specificity of electronic targets (e.g., only taking certain brands) can indicate connections to specific resale markets.
4. Pharmaceuticals: This is a specialized target that often indicates a connection to drug trafficking:
* Some robbers might focus on specific high-value or addictive medications.
* Others might take whatever they can get, suggesting personal use or less organized resale plans.
* Targeting pharmacies versus delivery vehicles can indicate different levels of planning and risk assessment.
5. Personal information: Identity theft-motivated robberies are increasingly common:
* Some robbers might focus on stealing documents, credit cards, or digital devices specifically for personal information.
* Others might combine this with traditional theft, taking valuables as well as information-rich items.
6. Specific high-value items: Some robbers specialize in targeting particular high-value goods:
* This could include art, rare collectibles, or specific luxury goods.
* Such specialization often indicates a pre-arranged buyer or specialized knowledge of niche markets.
7. Vehicles: While carjacking is often considered a separate crime, some robbers incorporate vehicle theft into their MO:
* This might involve stealing getaway vehicles as part of the robbery.
* Some might target specific high-value vehicles as the primary object of the robbery.
8. Combination approaches: Many robbers don't limit themselves to one category:
* Some might have a primary target (like cash) but opportunistically take other valuable items.
* Others might have a systematic approach to taking a variety of items in a specific order.
9. Unusual or specific items: Sometimes, robbers target items that seem odd or overly specific:
* This could indicate a pre-arranged theft for a specific client.
* It might also suggest personal motivations beyond financial gain.
10. Nothing: In some cases, robbers might leave without taking anything:
* This could be due to interruption or unexpected resistance.
* In rare cases, it might indicate that the primary motive was not theft (e.g., intimidation or thrill-seeking).
The choice of what to steal can reveal much about the robber:
* Level of planning and preparation
* Knowledge of markets and resale opportunities
* Connections to larger criminal networks
* Personal addictions or financial pressures
* Risk tolerance and experience level
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