How should robbery offenses be counted?

Robbery offenses should be counted as one offense for each distinct operation because this approach aligns with the definitions and reporting requirements outlined in the Clery Act and the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) guidelines. The essence of robbery involves taking property from a person with the intent to permanently deprive them of it, which is considered a single transactional event regardless of the number of victims or the complexity of the incident.

Counting one offense for each distinct operation ensures clarity in reporting and reflects the intent of the law, which focuses on the act of robbery itself rather than the various elements that may occur during the event, such as multiple victims or threats made. This method of counting maintains consistency and is important for understanding crime trends and resource allocation within campus safety and law enforcement.