Robbery in the United States: An Analysis of Recent Trends and Patterns

Philip J. Cook analyzes robbery trends and patterns in the United States through data-driven research and criminological analysis. The book draws on law enforcement statistics, victim surveys, and offender interviews to examine robbery's causes, characteristics, and consequences. The study breaks down robbery incidents by type, location, weapons used, victim demographics, and perpetrator profiles. Cook investigates the economic and social factors that influence robbery rates across different regions and time periods. The research assesses various approaches to robbery prevention, from law enforcement strategies to community-based initiatives and policy reforms. Specific focus is given to the effectiveness of different deterrence methods and the role of the criminal justice system. Cook's work stands as a foundational text in understanding robbery as both a crime category and societal phenomenon. The analysis highlights the complex interplay between economic conditions, law enforcement practices, and criminal behavior patterns.

There are not enough internet reviews to create a summary of this book. Instead, here is a summary of reviews of Philip J. Cook's overall work: Reader reviews indicate Cook produces thorough, data-driven research on gun policy and crime prevention. His work carries authority in academic circles but also reaches general readers interested in evidence-based policy discussion. Readers appreciated: - Clear presentation of complex statistical analysis - Balanced examination of policy implications - Extensive documentation and citations - Focus on empirical evidence over ideology - Accessibility for non-academic readers Common criticisms: - Dense academic writing style can be challenging - Some find the statistical methodology sections overly technical - Updates needed for older data in earlier works - Limited coverage of certain regional perspectives On Amazon, "Gun Violence: The Real Costs" maintains a 4.2/5 rating from 28 reviews. Academic citations of Cook's work number in the thousands according to Google Scholar. One reader noted: "Cook presents the facts and lets them speak for themselves." Another commented: "The statistical analysis is robust but requires careful reading to fully grasp." Readers seeking pure policy advocacy or simpler narratives may find Cook's academic approach less engaging.

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🔎 During the 1970s and 80s when this book was published, robbery rates in major US cities were 3-4 times higher than they are today 📚 Philip J. Cook is the ITT/Terry Sanford Distinguished Professor of Public Policy at Duke University and has authored over 100 publications on crime and criminal justice 💵 The book revealed that most commercial robberies occur within the first hour of business opening or the last hour before closing 🏦 Bank robberies, despite their prominence in media and film, consistently make up less than 2% of all robberies analyzed in the study 👥 The research showed that about 70% of robberies involved more than one offender, making it a notably "social" crime compared to other property offenses