NCJ Number
149681
Journal
Locksmith Ledger Dated: (February 1994) Pages: 92-94
Date Published
1994
Length
3 pages
Annotation
A study of burglary in three Philadelphia suburbs revealed where and when businesses were burgled and the characteristics of burgled businesses.
Abstract
The study found that a burglar makes rational choices about where and when to commit a break-in. The burglar chooses targets that provide high-value goods with low chances of being noticed or apprehended. The burglar chooses targets within areas or traffic corridors that are relatively wealthy and with which he is familiar. Within the neighborhood, he chooses a safe street and a target that offers concealment and a high-value take. Businesses located within three blocks of a major thoroughfare are three times less likely to be burgled than similar businesses in more remote locations. Less protected and secluded properties such as office parks are most likely targets, followed by retail establishments and single office buildings. Most commercial burglaries occur at night when the establishment and immediate surrounding are vacant. Installers should use this data to decide where to focus sales efforts and target potential commercial clients. Data can be used to suggest levels of security that relate to location and property attributes. Locksmiths should consider the level of criminal activity in an area, along with environmental factors such as lighting and proximity to parks and woods, to establish the level of overall security for a particular establishment. 4 figures