The Influence of Activity Space and Visiting Frequency on Crime Location Choice: Findings from an Online Self-Report Survey

Barbara Menting, Marre Lammers, Stijn Ruiter*, Wim Bernasco

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to JournalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Crime pattern theory predicts that offenders commit offences in their activity spaces. We also propose that they most likely offend in the more frequently visited parts. Previous studies used offenders' residential areas or other activity space proxy measures but lacked data on other routinely visited places (e.g., work, school, and leisure activities). A major contribution of this study is the use of an online survey in which 78 offenders reported on their own activity spaces and committed offences (n = 140). Results show that offending is much more likely in offenders' activity spaces than elsewhere, and effects increase with visiting frequency. Although residential area is a good predictor, offenders' more extensive self-reported activity spaces predict much better where they commit offences.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)303-322
Number of pages20
JournalBritish Journal of Criminology
Volume60
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 14 Mar 2020

Funding

This work was supported by the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research under the Innovational Research Incentives Scheme Vidi Grant [452-12-004].

FundersFunder number
Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek452–12–004

    Keywords

    • activity space
    • crime location choice
    • crime pattern theory
    • Online Activity Space Inventory Survey (OASIS)
    • visiting frequency

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