Smarte Täter, naive Opfer? Eine Studie zur Typisierung der Opfer von Diebstahl und Wohnungseinbruch
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Smarte Täter, naive Opfer? Eine Studie zur Typisierung der Opfer von Diebstahl und Wohnungseinbruch
Entorf, Horst | Rieckmann, Johannes
Vierteljahrshefte zur Wirtschaftsforschung, Vol. 84 (2015), Iss. 2 : pp. 11–26
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Horst Entorf, Goethe-Universität Frankfurt
Johannes Rieckmann, DIW Berlin – Deutsches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung
Abstract
Based on data of individuals participating in a comprehensive crime victimisation study, we examine the reasons of becoming a victim of property offences. The interpretation of the econometric findings is based upon the assumption that offences result from the interaction of victims and perpetrators. For instance, given rational criminal behaviour, in absence of effective preventive measures (e. g., due to naive victims) we would expect that victimization rates are relatively high among people with higher income, education and activity levels. Empirical results show that victimisation is indeed linked to higher education. Similarly, younger persons become more often victims than older persons, which seems to be in line with the picture of rational thieves and burglars who try their luck with the mobile and active (and thus more vulnerable) groups of the population. Not in line with this hypothesis, however, is our observation that the unemployed bear a higher risk of becoming a victim of burglary.