Many early criminological theories tended to study the background of crime, that is, they studied how criminal motivation and behavior evolved over time with regards to the interaction of individual traits, socialization, and structural location. Conversely, Routine Activities theorists focused on the contemporaneous (here and now) aspects of the crime and the factors that lead to whether a crime would or would not occur. Routine Activities theorists posited that given the convergence of three essential ingredients, at a certain place and time, the explanation for the occurrence of predatory crimes and how to deter them could be best understood.

Please respond to the following question. You will need to include at least 1 credible reference:

• Discuss the merits of the "here and now" approach postulated by the Routine Activities theorists versus the merits posited by conventional background criminological theorists in the explanation of predatory crime causation.

• Must be at least 200 words.