NCJ Number
245837
Journal
Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency Volume: 50 Issue: 4 Dated: November 2013 Pages: 616-631
Date Published
November 2013
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This study tested the influence of darkness in the street robbery crime event alongside temperature.
Abstract
Negative binomial regression models tested darkness and temperature as predictors of street robbery. Units of analysis were four 6-hour time intervals in two U.K. study areas that have different levels of darkness and variations of temperature throughout the year. Darkness is a key factor related to robbery events in both study areas. Traversing from full daylight to full darkness increased the predicted volume of robbery by a multiple of 2.6 in London and 1.2 in Glasgow. Temperature was significant only in the London study area. Interaction terms did not enhance the predictive power of the models. Darkness is an important driving factor in seasonal variation of street robbery. A further implication of the research is that time of the day patterns are crucial to understanding seasonal trends in crime data. Abstract published by arrangement with Sage Journals.