Repeat burglary victimisation: Analysis of a partial failure

Abstract

The extent to which criminal offending is disproportionately committed against the same households and individuals is noted, highlighting the consequential crime reduction possibilities. The demonstrated communicability of burglary risk across households located nearby extends those possibilities. A burglary reduction project in Knowsley, Merseyside, England is described in outline. This was initially a partial implementation failure. Where implemented, the risk of subsequent burglary victimisation was much lower than where it was not implemented. This could not be accounted for in terms of officer experience or time of burglary. A subsequent initiative using Police Community Support Officers as implementers yielded significant burglary reductions in the street segments where they were active. The Merseyside work illustrates the viability of burglary reduction by concentration on those recently burgled and nearby households.