NCJ Number
69233
Journal
Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 8 Issue: 1 Dated: (1980) Pages: 39-51
Date Published
1980
Length
13 pages
Annotation
PATTERNS IN BURGLARY AND RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN BURGLARIES AND BURGLAR TYPES ARE EXAMINED ON THE BASIS OF DATA FROM 6 CALIFORNIA LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN 1972 AND 1973.
Abstract
KEY CLUSTER ANALYSIS IS USED TO CREATE SETS OF MULTIDIMENSIONAL NOMINAL VARIABLES AND THEN TO DETERMINE HOW CASES ARE DISTRIBUTED AMONG SETS. DEMOGRAPHIC OFFENDER CHARACTERISTICS CONSIDER ARE MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME, MEDIAN YEARS OF EDUCATION, PERCENTAGE OF OWNER-OCCUPIED HOMES, PROPORTION OF BLACK POPULATION, AND PERCENTAGE OF FEMALES IN THE LABOR FORCE. OFFENSE DATA DEMONSTRATE THAT MOST BURGLARY INCIDENTS OCCUR IN LOWER INCOME AND EDUCATION AREAS WITH A LARGE BLACK POPULATION. BURGLARS TEND TO BE WHITE, MALE, AND UNDER 17 YEARS OLD. INCIDENT VARIABLES USED ARE (1) DAMAGE TO PROPERTY AND FORCIBLE ENTRY, (2) LOCATION IN HIGH-INCOME, HIGH-EDUCATION, LOW-BLACK-POPULATION AREAS, AND (3) NONRESIDENTIAL STRUCTURES WITHIN AN ALARM SYSTEM. OFFENDER VARIABLES ARE CRIMINAL HISTORY, RACE, AND NUMBER OF CRIME PARTNERS. DESPITE INDICATIONS OF TRENDS; E.G., THAT BLACK OFFENDERS BURGLARIZE DISADVANTAGED AREAS AND WHITE BURGLARS STRIKE PROSPEROUS AREAS, ONLY ONE REALLY SUBSTANTIAL RELATIONSHIP IS APPARENT: WHITE OFFENDERS WITH PREVIOUS CRIMINAL HISTORIES WORKING IN GROUP TEND TO USE FORCE IN BURGLARIZING RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURES LOCATED IN PROSPEROUS AREAS. ON THE WHOLE, THE OFFENDER TYPES ESTABLISHED HAVE NO INTERRELATED PATTERN FOR THE SEVEN OFFENSE TYPES DETERMINED. UNLIKE CRIMES WITH AN INTERACTIVE PATTERN, BURGLARY AND OTHER PROPERTY CRIMES MAY REFLECT OPPORTUNITY RATHER THAN CHOICE. NOTES, TABLES, AND 14 REFERENCES ARE FURNISHED.