REPEAT BURGLARY VICTIMIZATION : RESULTS OF EMPIRICAL RESEARCH by

This paper explores some theoretical notions about repeat burglary inctimization, and reports findings from research into repeat victimization of residential burglary in the city of Bnschede, the Nether- lands, using police records over a period of six years. The study shows that there is a highly skewed distribution of burglary victimization in the population that is not due to chance. Furthermore, the study corrobo- rates the findings of former research that there is a much greater chance of a repeat burglary in the period immediately after a burglary and that the magnitude of this risk declines with time. It is argued that the most plausible explanation for these results is that the same of- fender(s) — or their acquaintances — return to the premises to commit another burglary. Using data on apprehended offenders, this hypothe- sis is partly tested. The study shows that repeat victimization is more likely in high-crime than in low-crime areas. It is demonstrated that the most convincing explanation for these results is that offenders are not only more likely to commit a burglary in residences near to the places they live, but that the same applies to the chance of committing a repeat burglary. Implications of the findings for crime prevention and detection are discussed.