Affiliations: [a] Haifa University, Haifa, Israel | [b] Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA | [c] City College of New York, USA, and University of
Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania, PA, USA
Correspondence:
[*]
Corresponding author: Professor Yochanan Shachmurove, Department of
Economics, University of Pennsylvania, 3718 Locust Walk, Philadelphia, PA
19104-6297, USA (the author is visiting this address). Tel.: +1 215 898-1090
(O), +1 610 645-9235 (H); Fax: +1 215 573-2057; E-mail: yochanan@econ.sas.upenn.edu. The questionnaire and the data are available upon
request from the authors.
Abstract: This paper applies household survey data to discern a pattern of, and
subsequently propose preventative solutions to, suburban property crime.
Specifically, 22,192 households in Greenwich, Connecticut were urged to respond
to a questionnaire. The survey included questions that measure the household’s
proneness to victimization and its level of precautionary activities. The
probability of victimization is estimated by applying the SAS/STAT program. The
study considers the properties of the Deterrence Hypothesis and the rational
behavior of burglars. The Deterrence Hypothesis is associated with the relative effectiveness of
criminal justice. The focus is on the deterrence activities initiated by
homeowners to reduce the probability of being burglarized. It details the
results of a logistic regression analysis applied to individual households. The
probability of residential burglary is calculated by accounting for the
location, surroundings and attributes of the residences, as well as a variety of
security precautionary measures.
