Target Removal Case Study
Cash Reduction and Robbery Prevention in Australian Betting Shops
- - - - Ronald V. Clarke and Gerry McGrath
TIn this case study, the target of the crime was cash. Off-track betting in Victoria, Australia is organized by the Totalizator Agency Board (TAB). These betting shops handle large sums of money and can be at risk of robbery. The TAB made some changes to reduce its risk of robbery:
- Time lock cash boxes were introduced,
- Cash was limited at each selling position,
- Time locks were used on the main safes, and
- Changes were advertised using signs at the entrance.
This study compared the number of robberies for betting shops with robberies of banks and all other commercial premises in Victoria for the 10-year period the cash reduction changes were made. This was done to determine if the decline was just the result of a more general trend of declining robbery rates or to some of the changes that had been implemented. Armed robberies of banks and other premises generally increased in the period (1979-1988), while robberies of betting shops showed a decline. It was also found that the average dollar amount stolen in robberies generally declined.
In this case study of Australian betting shops, by removing the target (cash), the businesses' risk of victimization was reduced. These measures should be considered by any business at risk of robbery.
- For more information about this case study, click here.
- To see how this worked during the gold rush, click here.
- To see how this works in a shoe store, click here.
- To see how this worked during the gold rush, click here.
