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WHO, WHAT & WHERE OF STREET CRIME

© Su Epstein

Many people are intrigued by the notion of crime: who commits such acts? Why do they happen? When do they happen? For some people it is a fascination with things they don’t understand or are attracted to. For others, people want to know how to protect themselves from being a victim of crime.

While there is a great deal we do not know about criminal behavior, there are patterns to street crime that have been consistent over time. Most of these patterns will not surprise you and the explanations behind these patterns can also be considered common sense. But if you are not up on your crime statistics, you might find these patterns very interesting:

Crime and Gender

* Most victims and offenders of crime are men, the only exception being the crime of rape. In many places people believe that women are at higher risk of victimization. Statistically, this has not proven out, except for the crime of rape. Please note however, that this does not mean that men are not raped. They are and there are reported cases, but not as many reported cases as women. Some researchers believe that this is due to social stigma, that men are ashamed to report the crime. This pattern is also not saying that women do not commit crime, they do. However, more crimes are committed by men than by women.

Crime and Age

* Most people arrested for committing a crime AND most victims of crime are less than 25 years of age. The older we get, the more likely we are to be conscious of crime. This may increase our fears and awareness and in turn change our behavior. Researchers believe that this may be one reason why the older one is, the less statistical likeliness they have of being a victim of a street crime. It is also assumed that the older one is the more likely they will think about the consequences of their actions and therefore avoid criminal activity.

Crime and Geography

* More crime happens in warm weather and in warmer climates. The highest crime rate by region in the United States is the South. Researchers believe there are several reasons for this. First, the higher temperatures make people more agitated. Second, warmer weather allows for more opportunity for criminal activity. More people are outside, leaving possessions more unguarded; car or house windows are more likely to be left open. Wallets in pockets will not be protected by coats, and so on.

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