NCJ Number
113430
Journal
Home Office Research and Planning Unit Research Bulletin Issue: 23 Dated: (1987) Pages: 28-33
Date Published
1987
Length
6 pages
Annotation
The residential and community dimensions of motor vehicle crime (MVC) were examined using data from the 1982 and 1984 British Crime Survey conducted in England and Wales.
Abstract
The combined samples of over 20,000 households reported 3,605 incidents of MVC. Of these, 49 percent involved criminal damage, 8 percent involved vehicle theft, and the remainder involved theft and attempted theft from motor vehicles. Overall, the residential environment was the most frequent location of MVC, followed by the workplace, and places of entertainment or recreation. MVC is predominantly a nighttime offense, with 78 percent of offenses occurring between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. Opportunity plays a major role in time of occurrence: 73 percent of daytime offenses occurred away from home. There were proportionately slightly fewer offenses on weekends than on weekdays. Overall, more offenses involved vehicles parked in streets. Factors affecting risk of victimization included on-street nighttime parking, residence in metropolitan and inner-city areas, council tenure, and driving a high mileage. In addition, MVC was more frequent in neighborhoods with fewer vehicle-owning households. Findings have implications for the prevention of MVC. 11 references.