Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia
Abstract
Burglary and stealing are crimes that have a significant impact and cost on its victims and society. To mitigate such crimes, property marking is a situational crime prevention strategy that attempts to prevent through dissuasion. There are many forms of property marking, yet there is limited research of its efficacy. Where there have been such studies, there has been some indications of success. Therefore, the study assessed the efficacy of property marking to reduce burglary and stealing crimes. The study undertook a quantitate approach using non-equivalent control groups to assess the geo-spatial impact of property marking when applied at a saturation level. Three housing groups were established (N878), comprising an experimental (n278), adjacent (n300) and control (n300) groups, with significance measured using a Wald Chi-square method. Results indicated that when property marking is applied at saturation levels (≥80%), both burglary and stealing crimes decreased significantly. Furthermore, that displacement for both burglary and stealing occurred in the adjacent area. Recommendations suggest that property marking should not be used in a sporadic manner; instead, targeted at an optimal saturation level. Such targeting should have the aim to target burglary and stealing hotspots and saturate these areas for property marking to work effectively
