NCJ Number
132179
Date Published
1991
Length
27 pages
Annotation
This pilot study surveyed 40 West German offenders interrogated for stealing property from houses or cars and explored what circumstances had prompted their offense.
Abstract
The study's purpose was to gain preventive information to combat the rapidly growing number of German property offenses. When asked about such crime aspects as motivation, planning, decision-making, evaluation of risks, and expectation of profit, numerous offenders replied that they had responded to a specific theft opportunity and that the victims' carelessness had been a significant factor in the crime. Three fourths of the offenders stated that they had not planned the offense. Two thirds of the offenders also claimed that the presence of electronic alarm devices would have deterred them. On the other hand, three quarters of the offenders insisted that the threat of punishment constituted no deterrent. The study concludes that future police efforts should focus on increasing the awareness of the population and soliciting their preventive efforts.