Click on the following links. Please note these will open in a new window.

Journal Article 13.1: Bernasco, W. (2008, October). Them again? Same-offender involvement in repeat and near-repeat burglaries. European Journal of Criminology, 5(4), 411-431.

Abstract: Burglary victimization is associated with a temporary elevated risk of future victimization for the same property and nearby properties. Previous research suggests that often the initial and subsequent burglaries involve the same offenders. This paper tests this assertion, using data on detected residential burglaries during the period 1996–2004 in The Hague and its environs, in the Netherlands. It demonstrates that pairs of detected burglaries occurring in close proximity in space and time are much more likely to involve the same offenders than pairs that are not so related. Topics for future research and implications for the detection of burglaries are addressed.

Journal Article 13.2: Bond, B. J., & Hajjar, L. M. (2013, September). Measuring congruence between property crime problems and response strategies: Enhancing the problem-solving process. Police Quarterly, 16(3), 323-338.

Abstract: Property crime in Lowell, Massachusetts is fueled primarily by burglaries, motor vehicle crimes, and larcenies. The Lowell Police Department utilized the Smart Policing Initiative (SPI) to focus problem-solving efforts on property crime hot spots. Problem-solving is an effective crime reduction tool but deficiencies remain in implementing the problem-solving process. This article discusses how Lowell operationalized problem-solving in crime hot spots, focusing on the alignment between property crime problems and response strategies selected to achieve results. We apply the congruence model of organizational behavior, analyzing quantitative and qualitative data to measure the fit between problems and responses. We found a high degree of congruence between the SPI problem-solving components, which likely produced the positive crime reductions observed in the outcome data. By applying the concept of congruence, we offer a framework for strengthening problem solving at the outset through alignment of response strategies to crime problems.