Dynamycs of a Robbery: Criminological Aspects, Security Issues and Prevention - An Exploratory Study

While robbery is one of the most widespread criminal phenomena, with a very high recidivism rate, it has rarely been the subject of thorough empirical research. This article summarizes the results of an analysis of 23 video‐surveillance films of robberies. The contents were analysed with the view of identifying common typical sequences of certain situations. The study aimed to establish whether the actions viewed in the films followed certain behavioural patterns and to define theoretical models underlining such actions. Results show that social actors follow specific patterns in different environments. They also provide an opportunity for reflection on prevention.