Stranger-on-Stranger Violence

Stranger-on-stranger violence is random, unpredictable and can happen anywhere. In addition, there are no clear links between the victims and suspects. This does not mean that that the situations are completely spontaneous. Predators’ may keep track of certain places, like Automatic teller machines, fast-food restaurants and shopping malls, as a means to find the right target. Targets are selected for their innocence and naïve nature. Predators target these individuals because they want what the individual has (Meadows, 2010). There are a number of factors that add to the potential for stranger violence including “visiting an ATM, walking through a deserted parking lot, driving an expensive car, inadvertently cutting off someone in traffic, or wearing expensive clothing or jewelry” (Meadows, 2010, p. 111). The level of victimization can vary between serious injury, sexual assault and even death (Meadows, 2010). There are a number of factors that give rise to stranger-on-stranger violence. The following will address the factors associated with robbery, carjacking and spontaneous murder.

Robbery is taking property form an individual through the use of force or at the very least threatening to use force. Using force does not necessarily mean a weapon was used, but it does not eliminate it as a possibility. Data from the Uniform crime report shows that only 28 percent of robbery victims knew who the offender was. In addition, it reported that robberies occurred when the victims were either shopping or traveling. There is also an association between robbery victimization and the lifestyle and living conditions of the victim. Despite what one would think, it is actually poor families that are robbed more frequently. The...

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...and avoid being caught in an altercation.

There is no limitation on the ways people may be victimized. The potential becomes even greater when the perpetrator is a complete stranger. This is why it is important for people to take the initiative and make themselves a less appealing target. In terms of robbery better home security and a more random pattern of behavior can help. In general people need to be aware of their surroundings. There is no way to predict stranger-on-stranger violence. However people can take measures to protect themselves from becoming a target. This is important considering there is the possibility of harm or death.

Works Cited

Devaney, D., Unit 3: Lecture, University of Everest Online, 09 August 2010.

Meadows, R. J. (2010). Understanding Violence and Victimization, 5th edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ.: Pearson Education, Inc.