Mapping It Out: Repeat-Address Burglary Alarms and Burglaries (From Crime Mapping and Crime Prevention, P 289-310, 1997, David Weisburd and Tom McEwen, eds. - See NCJ-170277)

• NCJ Number: 170287
• Author(s): J L LeBeau; K L Vincent
• Date Published: 1997
• Length: 22 pages
• Sale Source: Criminal Justice Press/Willow Tree Press
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

This study uses graduated circle maps to compare the spatial distributions of alarm calls and burglary incidents across Charlotte, NC, during 1990.

Abstract

While the police are trying to cope with large volumes of false-alarm calls, a new direction in crime prevention asserts that preventing repeat victimization of people, property, places, and situations might be more efficient than other traditional crime prevention doctrines. This study compares the spatial distributions and repeat-address natures of all burglar alarms, all burglaries, burglaries without alarms, and places producing both alarm calls and burglaries. Comparisons of tables indicate that burglaries are more of a single-address phenomenon than alarm calls. Map comparisons imply that the spatial distributions of alarms, and burglaries without alarms are different. The chapter suggests that premises with alarms might be responsible for displacing burglars to locations without alarms and that the sheer number of false alarms might subtract from any gains made by targeting places for repeat-burglary victimization. Tables, figures, notes, references