Addis, N, Evans, A and Malleson, N orcid.org/0000-0002-6977-0615 (2021) Burglars as optimal foragers: exploring modern-day tricks of the trade. Crime Prevention and Community Safety, 23 (4). pp. 359-380. ISSN 1460-3780
Abstract
Based on semi-structured interviews with 23 incarcerated burglars, this paper details findings from a qualitative examination into how the principles of Optimal Forager Theory (to minimise time and effort, minimise risk of detection, and maximise reward) apply to the behavioural methods utilised by offenders. Findings included the use of ‘serial targets’ (to minimise time and effort), as well as offenders’ ability to ‘blend in’ to their surroundings (to minimise risk of detection). To maximise reward, offenders used brands of consumables (evident from packaging found in residents’ rubbish) as a proxy for wealth, as well as personal details gathered through residents’ discarded mail to establish their ethnicity (for the targeting of Asian gold). The findings support the notion of ‘dysfunctional expertise’, and demonstrate how efforts to maximise time and effort, minimise reward, and maximise risk of detection for offenders can be used to develop crime prevention policy to reduce future burglaries.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited. This is an author produced version of an article published in Crime Prevention and Community Safety. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. |
Keywords: | Residential burglary, Optimal forager theory, Offender decision-making, Target selection, Crime prevention |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Environment (Leeds) > School of Geography (Leeds) > Centre for Spatial Analysis & Policy (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 11 Aug 2021 09:43 |
Last Modified: | 16 Mar 2023 03:11 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Springer Nature |
Identification Number: | 10.1057/s41300-021-00125-x |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:176976 |