NCJ Number
145938
Journal
Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 21 Issue: 5 Dated: (1993) Pages: 497- 507
Date Published
1993
Length
11 pages
Annotation
This study used observation and deduction to find out the kinds of homes burglars chose to burglarize in three suburban townships of Philadelphia.
Abstract
Townships differed in population density, distance from the city, and affluence. The deduced burglary model entailed four decision points for the burglar: choice of neighborhood, choice of street, choice of property, and choice of point of entry. The study obtained data on individual homes. Sources of information included police files on the attributes of burglaries and alarm ownership, the county real estate assessment files, and questionnaires that were mailed to the individual homes. A total of 766 questionnaires was completed and returned by the homeowners (42-percent response rate). Questionnaires were also sent to a random sample of 1,110 alarm owners and to a matched control group of adjacent homes that had not been burgled and in which there were no alarms. Observation spanned 2 1/2 years. Findings show that the neighborhood was selected by the burglar for its proximity to thoroughfares that were familiar to the burglar. Burglars tended to target cul-de- sacs abutted by a wooded area or an abandoned railroad right-of-way. Homes with high value and few target-hardening attributes were more likely targets than other homes. Most burglars entered the targeted home through a first-floor doorway. All other things being equal, the presence of an alarm reduced the victimization rate. Additional research should identify those environmental conditions that are criminogenic only in certain types of neighborhoods or situations. 5 figures and 21 references