^aDepartment of Law, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, UK

Correspondence: Jo Deakin, School of Law, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK. E-mail: jo.deakin@manchester.ac.uk

Abstract

Street robbery offences can be perpetrated in a variety of ways. Offenders adopt a particular method of conducting the offence that appears to be closely related to the underlying purpose of the offence and the type of victim that is targeted. This paper reviews existing research and presents new findings relating to the "decisions" involved in the commission of street robbery from the perspective of the offenders. Twenty face-to-face interviews were undertaken with offenders convicted of street robbery. Findings specifically focus on the modus operandi employed by offenders based on their knowledge of the risks, struggles and advantages of different ways of working.