NCJ Number
232605
Journal
International Journal of Police Science and Management Volume: 12 Issue: 3 Dated: Autumn 2010 Pages: 450-459
Date Published
2010
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This study examined and analyzed car key burglary data recorded by Northamptonshire Police in the United Kingdom to identify trends or parameters that could more accurately distinguish a car key burglary from a regular domestic burglary, where the object of the offense is to steal the car.
Abstract
Since the mandatory introduction in 1998 of electronic immobilizers in all vehicles, new cars are impossible to start without their keys. Some offenders have thus resorted to stealing car keys during domestic burglaries in order to steal the car, a relatively new phenomenon referred to as 'car key burglaries'. With these crimes becoming an increasing problem in the United Kingdom, it is imperative that they are recorded accurately in order to identify the true scope of this problem and tackle it effectively. As yet, no universal definition of a car key burglary exists according to which all police constabularies can work, leading to inconsistencies in the recording of these types of crimes. Car key burglary data recorded by Northamptonshire Police was examined and analyzed, and significant differences were found between car key and regular domestic burglaries. These differences pertained to the time of day at which the offense occurred, the neighborhood in which the offense occurred and the search of the property by the offender. The implications of these findings are discussed, as well as limitations of the study, and possible directions for future research that may allow the police to record a domestic burglary more accurately as a car key burglary. Tables and references (Published Abstract)