Burglar Decision Making and Target Selection - An Assesment of Residential Vulnerability to Burglary

Abstract

This study assesses the theoretical consistency and empirical validity of environmental approach in relation to residential burglary in the Incheon Metropolitan City Area, in the Republic of Korea. The research design and methodology employed in the study consisted mainly of qualitative research techniques adjusted to suit the specific needs of the study. A purposive sampling method was used to select the fifty-two burglars interviewed. A central focus of the study was the subjects’ target-selection methodology, and in the study interviews they were queried as to how they went about identifying a suitable residential target for burglary. Special attention was given to the extent to which the subjects in the study sample utilized rational processes to select a potential burglary target, and what situational conditions and features they used as discriminative cues in this target-selection process. Analysis of the study data indicates that both the risks and the rewards of residential burglary are capable of influencing burglars’ target selection. However, when assessing potential residential burglary targets, burglars are significantly more influenced by situational cues relating to risk than by cues relating to reward. Thus, in this study it is proposed that prevention measures against residential burglary should pay particular attention to the manipulation of situational cues relating to risk. Based on the findings of the study, guidelines that could be useful in the development of various residential burglary prevention initiatives and measures are put forward for consideration.