Hot Spots and Repeat Break and Enter Crimes: An Analysis of Police Calls for Service Data

• NCJ Number: 168271
• Author(s): S Guidi; R Homel; M Townsley
• Date Published: 1997
• Length: 25 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: Queensland Criminal Justice Cmssn
• Sale Source: Queensland Criminal Justice Cmssn
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: Australia
• Note: US Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, International Crime Statistics Program

Annotation

This paper presents the key findings of an analysis of reported break and enter (B&E) offenses in the Beenleigh, Queensland area, with particular emphasis on repeat victimization and the phenomenon of crime hot spots.

Abstract

The data presented in this paper were obtained from the Queensland Police Service Information Management System and cover the period June 1, 1995 to December 13, 1996. The key findings are: (1) Overall, the chance of a residential property in the area being burgled during the period under review was about 1 in 12; however, residences which had been victimized once were twice as likely to be victimized again; (2) Non-residential properties were at a substantially greater risk of repeat victimization than residential properties; (3) Most repeat victimizations occurred within one or two months; after that, the risk of re-victimization dropped off markedly; and (4) The addresses most frequently re-victimized were facilities such as schools, shopping centers and commercial properties. Tables, figures, references