Modus Operandi by Mauro Corvasce (universal ebook reader txt) 📕

Other armed robberies by young aggressive street gangs often become violent. The street people will demand money at gunpoint or threaten to cut you with their knife. There have even been cases where a person was threatened with an IV syringe filled with HIV-positive blood. The victim is followed until he reaches a secluded location where the robbery can take place undetected. Common choices include exit and entry stairways to subways, subway platforms in the late night or early morning hours, deserted streets, or vehicles waiting for a light to change.

Automatic Teller Robberies

Since automatic teller machines (ATMs) are available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, they are a ready source of quick cash for armed robbers. Most bank machines have a daily withdrawal limit, so the stolen amounts are relatively small, $500 or less.

The armed robber will stake out an isolated ATM machine in the late evening or early morning hours. When the victim arrives, he is evaluated for his vulnerabilities. By this we mean is the victim alone, big in stature, or one who looks like he may put up a struggle? Is there traffic on the sidewalks and streets?

Some ATMs are enclosed with a self-locking door. The robber will wait until the victim starts his transaction, and by either pre-rigging the door, defeating the locking mechanism, or having a magnetic card himself, gain entry into the ATM area.

The victim will then be forced at gunpoint or knife point to withdraw the entire transaction limit, which will be stolen by our thief. The thief will then exit on foot from the scene. There have also been reported cases where the victim was kidnapped and held for a period of time so that a daily routine of stealing can be achieved.

Taxis

Taxi drivers are one of the primary, if not the main, victims of armed robbery. They have ready cash from fares, and neither taxi nor driver is equipped with any form of personal protection.

Some taxis have limited protection from semi-bullet-proof glass between the driver's and passenger's compartment, but this is easily defeated. Most drivers will not use the air conditioner to save money on fuel, so they leave the driver's side window open. When the robber gets out, he walks over to the driver and places either a knife or a gun against the victim and demands the money.

Another method is to be picked up in a good section of the city and be taken as a fare to a secluded area where the taxi driver is then held up for his money. The robber will leave the vehicle on foot and flee the scene. The more violent robbers shoot and kill the taxi driver.

The method of armed robbery is amateurish and the choice of weapons of amateur robbers is slight, but the brutality and violence is great. The weapons of choice are those that are available. Saturday Night Specials or large razors and knives are often used.

Check Cashing Outlets

Check cashing outlets are found in low-income areas where people, for a variety of reasons, are unable to cash their checks at an ordinary bank. The amount of money in these places varies, but in certain periods, such as the beginning of the month when people receive their public assistance or Social Security check, a lot of cash is necessary to meet the demands. Patrons using these services pay a fee, usually a percentage of the value of the check or money order being cashed.

Check cashing outlets are generally well secured with strong bullet stops and pry-resistant glass partitions and walls. To gain entry into the teller station or vault, a series of steps must be taken. These security procedures are much like those taken by an astronaut returning from space. The criminal must go through a series of air locks, but, unlike those used by an astronaut, these security locks are designed to keep unauthorized persons from entering. They must pass through one door, which will be secured behind them, and after that door is secured, a visual check through a surveillance camera is made. Only authorized personnel will be let through the inside door.

These businesses are extremely difficult, but most profitable, to hold up. Because of the difficulties, successful robberies are aided by employee incompetency or inside assistance. The inside assistant will be to in some way defeat security devices, perhaps by leaving doors unlocked. The incompetency might be when an employee is hungry for his lunch, fails to follow security procedures, and instead of going from one secured location to another, he just leaves all doors open.

The method used to rob these stores involves first surveying the habits of the employees. Once this is done it may simply be a matter of standing by when the lunch boy makes his delivery.

Female Armed Robbers

Female armed robbers, both professional and amateur, are rare. The professional female armed robber is more likely to be part of a gang, and will handle inside surveillance or act as a distraction during the actual holdup.

Some distractions we know of are having a young child fall and cry uncontrollably, having loud arguments between a customer and a salesperson, pretending not to speak English, and intimidating employees. Other methods include undressing or even urinating on the floor. This last works extremely well in crowded businesses and banks, especially in suburban areas where people are more easily shocked. While these diversion tactics are going on, the other associates grab key personnel and force them to turn over the merchandise or money.

Women are particularly good at surveillance, because who is going to question an attractive shopper?

Terrorist groups attempting to raise their funds through armed robbery may also use women as part of their gang.

The amateur female armed robber is most often a prostitute who robs her john or who is a desperate substance abuser. The prostitute will have the john undress and get ready for the sex act. Once the john is undressed, the prostitute uses a knife or razor to