The History of Street-Level Property Crimes in the United States

• Stealing goods has been prevalent throughout history.
• Late 19th Century: Notable criminal activity included robbing trains.
• Early 20th Century: A rise in bank robbery incidents.
• Overall, property crime rates remained low until the 1960s.

Positivistic Approach: Merton's Social Structure and Anomie

• Cultural Emphasis: There is a significant focus on individual achievement within American society. This leads to the following:
  • Individuals strive to achieve personal success.
• Structural Opportunities:
  • There is a lack of legitimate structural opportunities available to everyone, which can lead to criminal behavior as individuals attempt to achieve success through alternative means.
• Innovation: A key concept within this framework, referring to the ways individuals adapt to limited opportunities, often in ways that lead to deviance or crime.

Interactional Contexts and Ethnographic Voices (1 of 2)

• Cromwell and Olsen's Theory: They explore how individuals select targets for robbery based on certain contexts.
  • Emphasis on the avoidance of face-to-face interactions.
• Nature of Robbery: Typically involves strangers as victims, indicating a level of anonymity in the crime.
• Victim Background: Often, victims have a history of involvement in illegal activities themselves, affecting their vulnerability to crime.

Interactional Contexts and Ethnographic Voices (2 of 2)

• Specific Populations: Certain groups face higher rates of victimization:
  • Those who use drugs are frequently victims of crimes.
  • Clients of sex work also face significant risks.
• Risk in Resistance: There is a notable risk associated with resisting victimization which often puts individuals in precarious situations.
• Social Activities: Leisure activities such as partying can escalate the risk of becoming a victim, particularly in the context of property crimes.

Contemporary Responses to Street-Level Property Crime (1 of 2)

• Observations indicate a drop in street-level property crimes over the last 30 years.
• Factors contributing to this decline include:
  • An aging population may be less likely to engage in crime.
  • The emergence of a cashless society could impact property crimes by limiting the availability of cash to steal.
• Broken Windows Theory: A theory suggesting that visible signs of disorder and neglect cause an increase in crimes, leading to proactive measures in addressing minor offenses to prevent more serious crimes.