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Abstract
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VioLit summary:
OBJECTIVE:
The aim of this paper by Burke and O'Rear was to provide a profile of members of a specialized Asian gang and to identify their victims, in order to help law enforcement agencies to identify and prevent Asian gang violence.
METHODOLOGY:
The authors employed an unreported study design to investigate the incidents of robbery committed by "Home Invaders", in order to establish a profile of the Home Invader, to identify the method of operation of these offenders, and to suggest recommendations for reducing the risk that these people pose to the community.
FINDINGS/DISCUSSION:
The authors established a profile of the typical Home Invader. He is usually a young Asian male, between the ages of 18 and 30, who travels across the United States selecting victims who are also primarily Asian. The selection of Asian victims is based upon the notion that some Asian families living in the United States do not trust the banking industry, and therefore do not place their jewelry or cash in a banking institution, but keep their valuables at home. The modus operandi usually involves a group of 2 to 9 members who force their way into the home during the evening, and who rely upon intimidation, such as threats and actual violence, to lead the victims to disclose the whereabouts of valuables and thus complete the robbery. Although Home Invaders are mostly Asian, there have been some incidents involving young Afro-American offenders and victims who are not Asian. Most of these robberies seem to have been drug-related. Juvenile Home Invaders have also been reported, although their prime targets seem to have been people staying in motels who are most likely not available for later suspect identification or trials.
AUTHORS' RECOMMENDATIONS:
The authors suggested that police agencies identify the risk factors involved with these Home Invaders, and take precautions to reduce or prevent the risk of robbery. Prevention strategies included: 1) training law enforcement officials to identify potential offenders and their victims; 2) the development of various public awareness programs, such as basic crime prevention strategies; 3) the establishment of meetings amongst community members and police officials in order to provide an integrated approach to the problem; 4) the recruitment of Asian law enforcement officials to provide the community with appropriate and positive cultural input; 5) the need to stress cooperation between community members and police officials; 6) political backing for strict enforcement of laws for those who have been arrested and convicted of being involved in the robberies; and 7) the involvement of other official agencies, such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Immigration and Naturalization Service and The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, in the application of federal anti-racketeering laws.
EVALUATION:
The authors present an informative and valuable examination of the Home Invader. A discussion of the source of the research, however, would have been helpful, as would have statistics concerning the incidence of these robberies in the United States, and their impact upon the victims. Policy and prevention implications were interesting, although there could have been a more thorough discussion of methods of prevention. Overall, the paper provides an insightful glimpse into the problem of the Home Invader, but a more detailed and thorough discussion and examination would have been appreciated. (CSPV Abstract - Copyright © 1992-2007 by the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence, Institute of Behavioral Science, Regents of the University of Colorado)
KW - Law Enforcement Response
KW - Police Response
KW - Male Violence
KW - Male Offender
KW - Gang Violence
KW - Adult Gang
KW - Adult Male
KW - Adult Offender
KW - Adult Violence
KW - Asian Male
KW - Asian Gang
KW - Asian Offender
KW - Asian Violence
KW - Home Invasion
KW - Offender Characteristics
KW - Robbery Offender
KW - Robbery Risk Factors
KW - Robbery Causes
KW - Robbery Prevention
KW - Violence Risk Factors
KW - Violence Prevention
KW - Prevention Recommendations
KW - Victim Characteristics
KW - Asian Victim |