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What are the factsabout robbery?■ In 1999, one robbery occurred

every minute in the UnitedStates. (Crime in the United States1999.

Washington, DC: Federal Bureau of

Investigation, 2000)

■ The national loss due to robberies was an

estimated $463 million in 1999. Accordingto the Federal Bureau of Investigation, however, the impact of this violent crime on itsvictims cannot be measured in terms of monetary loss alone. (Crime in the United States1999.

Washington, DC: Federal Bureau of

Investigation, 2000)

■ In 1999, 40 percent of all robberies were

committed with firearms. (Crime in theUnited States 1999.

Washington, DC: 

Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2000)

■ In 1999, 74 percent of male victims of robbery and 42 percent of female victims of robbery stated that the robber was a stranger.

(Criminal Victimization in the United States1999.

Washington, DC: Bureau of Justice

Statistics, 2000)

■ In 1999, 48 percent of all robbery offenses

were committed on streets and highways,24 percent occurred in commercial establishments, and 12 percent occurred at residences. (Crime in the United States 1999.Washington, DC: Federal Bureau ofInvestigation, 2000)

■

Victims sustain some physical injury in 32 percent of all robberies. (Criminal

Victimization in the United States 1994.Washington, DC: Bureau of JusticeStatistics, 1997)

■ Fifteen percent of all persons arrested in

1999 for robbery were under age 18. (Crimein the United States 1999.

Washington, DC:

Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2000)

■ During 1999, the average value of property

loss for a single robbery was $1,131, reflecting a 15-percent increase from the 1998 figure. (Crime in the United States 1999.Washington, DC: Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2000)

Resources for Information

and Assistance

National Center for Victims of Crime

1–800–FYI–CALL or 1–800–394–2255

www.ncvc.org

National Organization for Victim Assistance

1–800–TRY–NOVA or 1–800–879–6682

www.try-nova.org

Office for Victims of Crime Resource Center

1–800–627–6872

TTY 1–877–712–9279

www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc/ovcres/welcome.html

This brochure was developed by the National Center for 

Victims of Crime under a project supported by Grant No.

97–VF–GX–K007 awarded by the Office for Victims of Crime,

Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice.

Points of view in this document are those of the author

and do not necessarily represent the official position

or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.
What is robbery?

Robbery is taking or attempting to take anythingof value from the care, custody, or control ofsomeone by force or by threat of force or violence. If a weapon is used, it is called armed robbery and is usually considered by the police andcourts to be more serious than robbery without aweapon.Robbery is not only a property crime but also a crimeagainst a person—a crime that might result in violence.Robbery involves not only the loss of propertybut also the threat or use of violence. Robberyoccurs more frequently than either rape or homicide. Unlike victims of rape or other personalassaults, robbery victims seldom know theirassailants. Victims know their robbers in onlyabout 26 percent of robberies. Of all violentcrimes, robbery is the most likely to be committedby more than one offender.Robberies occur in many different settings. Theymay happen on the street, in the home, in a park,on public transportation, or in a business such as abank, store, hotel, gas station, or restaurant.Anyone can become a victim of robbery—even a child.Because victims encounter robbersface-to-face or in close proximity,robbery victims often feel total andimmediate loss of control. When aweapon is involved, the sense ofhelplessness and the fear of death canbe strong, which can lead to both shortterm and long-term crisis reactions.Most property stolen during a robbery is neverrecovered, and financial losses can be substantial.If the stolen property has unique or sentimentalvalue for the victim, emotional reactions can bevery intense.

If You Are a Robbery SurvivorA robbery can be a violent, life-threatening situation. As a robbery victim, you may have manyfeelings, thoughts, and reactions to what hashappened.You may feel angry at the robber or the policeand court system for not doing enough. Youmay feel intense sadness and grief over possessions that you have lost. You may fear thatthe robber will return or that another robberymight occur. You may feel guilt that perhapssomething you did led to the robbery, eventhough you did nothing wrong.You may feel nervous in crowds or very suspiciouswhen you are alone with someone you do notknow. You may have nightmares or flashbacksabout the robbery. You may find that you startlemore easily at little noises or abrupt movements.You also may feel vulnerable and that you are notin control of your life.How victims react to robbery varies from personto person. Your reaction may be immediate ordelayed. Although you may feel as if you are theonly one experiencing these feelings and that noone else can understand what you are goingthrough, your reactions are normal. Some reactions may decrease within a few days; others may

continue for some time or resurface after being

triggered by another event.It is important for you to deal with and resolveyour crisis reactions at your own pace. Just aseveryone reacts to a crisis differently, not everyonereassembles his or her life in the same way orwithin the same timeframe. Many victims say it ishelpful to talk with others about the robberyexperience and about their crisis reactions. Asvictims talk about their robbery, over time they

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