According toaccording to Robert merton unequal status and a lack of access to resources determines whether or not a person deviates or conforms to social norms

That statement is true.

Explanation:

Robert Merton stated that explanation in his Strain Theory.

According to this theory, lacks access of resources tend to make it really hard for lower class people to fulfill basic needs of living.

This will create a psychological pressure for them. If they became desperate enough, they might consider criminal behavior such as stealing or robbing people as a justifiable measure to fulfill those basic needs.  

This is the reason why people in lower social status have higher likelihood to deviates from the social norm and become a 'Threat' to the rest of the people.