Matt looked like someone who made his living by street robbery.

There were about 15,000 street robberies in Madrid in 1987, 32 percent more than 1986, the city government reported.

In the meantime, street robbery decreased by 23 percent.

"That is much closer to a street robbery" than securities fraud, he added.

But he could not explain the increase in street robberies.

They said there have been more street robberies, more shootings and a greater sense of fear.

By the 1970s the area was notorious for street robberies and drug dealing.

All that can be defined in secular terms, like a street robbery.

"There are some burglaries, but street robberies and all that, thank God, that's not a real big problem."

The police said they had no reason to think that the attack was anything but a botched street robbery.