NCJ Number
101398
Date Published
1984
Length
14 pages
Annotation
Residential burglary research in England and Wales for 1981 examined offense levels, trends over time, comparisons with other countries, types of households at risk, victimization effects, and the fear of burglary.
Abstract
Data were obtained from the British Crime Survey (BCS) and other crime surveys, which questioned representative citizen samples about their experiences as crime victims. The BCS estimated that just over 2 percent of households were burgled once or more (3.4 percent including attempts). Trend analysis shows an increase in residential burglary over time, but it is unclear how much of the increase in recorded burglary has resulted from increased reporting to the police and police recording procedures. Eighty-five percent of those victimized in 1981 reported the incident to police. Burglary rates for 1981 in the United States were double those in England and Wales, and 1981 burglary rates in Canadian cities were 50 percent higher. Inner-city apartment dwellers were at highest risk for burglary in England and Wales. Almost 60 Wales. Almost 60 percent of burglary victims reported being 'extremely upset' by the incident, and respondents were worried more about burglary than any other single crime. Increased public information about the low risk of being burgled could help reduce citizens' fear, and improved victim services could help relieve adverse victim reactions to the crime. Tabular data and 15 references.