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POP-gids woninginbraak : een praktische gids voor de aanpak en preventie van woninginbraken

Lotgerink Bruinenberg, Frederique (2012) POP-gids woninginbraak : een praktische gids voor de aanpak en preventie van woninginbraken.

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Abstract:The problem of burglaries in single family houses is the main focus of this study. There is a practical guide written that could help local authorities and police to tackle the problem of these burglaries. The research question central to this thesis is: ‘What are the characteristics of burglaries in single family houses and what preventive measures can be taken?’. The motivation for this subject is that burglaries occur relatively frequently and has a great impact on victims. The policy of local authorities and police regarding the prevention of burglaries can vary enormously. Therefore, it can be practical to integrate the various approaches and analyze them on their merits. The purpose of this study is to let policy makers become familiar with the various theories developed to combat burglary and to have a comprehensive set of effective preventive measures. Therefore, the paper has the format of a problem-oriented guide according to the problem-oriented approach. This theory emphasizes the proactive approach to problems by police through an analysis of underlying factors. Also, the concept of situational crime prevention and the resulting CPTD, routine activities and rational choice theory are defined and explained. Subsequently, through literature reviews, different studies have been compared regarding the prevention of burglary. It became clear what the most important characteristics are of burglaries. For example, studies about the environmental characteristics were analyzed to provide a cohesive and coherent answer on which houses have a greater risk to be burgled. But also the characteristics of the thieves and their motivation is investigated. This thorough analysis made it possible to determine which measures can be seen as effective and thus applicable. Some preventive measures are both effective and relatively inexpensive. For example setting up Neighbourhood Watch programs, which would improve the liveability of the neighbourhood and stimulate mutual understanding. This can increase the surveillance on the street and make it more difficult for burglars to burgle a house unseen. It also showed that the Building Act of 1999 has contributed to a reduced risk of burglary. This law states that one must build a house with multiple locks and other measures to prevent an easy burglary. The PKVW (Police Certification Save Living) is also successful in reducing burglary, because of the installation of more and reinforced locks. Some other prevention measures are less effective and sometimes more expensive. Examples are the installation of alarm systems, CCTV and gated communities. These expensive solutions are only for the wealthy upper class of society. This does not mean it is ineffective against burglary, but in most cases, the cost do not outweigh the benefits. Not everyone in society can benefit from these measures. Other measures, such as improving visibility, more evidence of occupation, reducing access for traffic, are not adequate enough. These techniques have some important drawbacks, such as reducing the access for traffic. This will also mean less natural surveillance and less supervision. According to the routine activity theory this will increase burglary, because there is no capable guardian to stop the burglar. The preventive measures that are under debate could benefit from more research into the feasibility. It is a possibility that through little adjustments, these measures can become more effective and suitable. This could be done through conducting more meta-analyzes according to the example of the Campbell Collaboration. This organization monitors the quality of studies through peer review. Qualified independent investigations verify the methods the authors use and the conclusions that they draw. In conclusion, there are many preventive measures to combat burglaries. It is ultimately the choice of policy makers which policy measures they will use. Because of the large number and wide range of different policies, it is difficult to determine which ones work well and also cost effective. Hopefully this thesis can offer help in making this decision.
Item Type:Essay (Master)
Faculty:BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences
Subject:88 social and public administration
Programme:Public Administration MSc (60020)
Link to this item:https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/61488
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