Question Summary:
If a person travels with the intention of committing Haram, will the rulings of safar (travelling) be applicable to him?

Question Detail:

In the Hanafi madhhab, someone travelling for an impermissible reason (robbery, killing innocent, gambling, fornication) must still shorten their prayers as long as they are considered travelers?

Answer :

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
If a person has the intention of travelling more than 48 miles for less than 15 days, he will be considered a musaafir (traveler) regardless of his intention for travelling.
If a person travels with the intention of committing something Haram, he will be considered a traveler and will make Qasr (shortening the Salahs) in his journey. [1]
 
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Abdul Hannan Nizami,
Student Darul Iftaa
Chicago, USA
Concurred by,
Moulana Abdul Azim bin Abdur Rahman
Moulana Ismail Desai