Final answer:
Commercial robberies usually occur in areas with a lot of financial transactions, like banks and commercial corridors, often during low-visibility times, such as at night. Descriptions from witnesses play a key role in identifying robbers, and historically, security measures have evolved to protect against commercial theft along trade routes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Commercial robberies typically occur in areas with high financial activity, such as banks and stores, where there is a higher concentration of cash or valuable goods. As described by the late bank robber Willie Sutton, banks used to be prime targets "because that's where the money is," although in modern times, money is mostly in the form of electronic records, not physical currency. However, commercial corridors and high traffic areas, like those in the eastern San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles, CA, can also be hot spots for crimes like car theft.
Commercial robberies tend to occur during times when there is less potential for witnesses, often at night or during early morning hours. Historical accounts, such as the looting of Main Street by a large group of women and disorganized theft by youths, show that robberies and looting can also occur during periods of chaos or social unrest. Law enforcement typically relies on witness descriptions, such as height, to identify suspects after such incidents.
In response to the constant threat posed by robbers and bandits to commerce, historical measures like caravansaries were established to secure goods during trade. This illustrates how, throughout history, commercial robbery has influenced security practices and economic structures.