Difference between revisions of "Security issue: Ram raid"
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| Lack of surveillance. || Decreases risk of detection. || A low level of surveillance, particularly round-the-clock surveillance, decreases the perceived risk of detection for a perpetrator and thereby increases the attractiveness. |
| Lack of surveillance. || Decreases risk of detection. || A low level of surveillance, particularly round-the-clock surveillance, decreases the perceived risk of detection for a perpetrator and thereby increases the attractiveness. |
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| − | | High levels of |
+ | | High levels of ram-raid in the vicinity. || Increases likelihood of targeting. || The distance to known places where offenders live matters. On average, burglars travel 2,6 km to commit their crimes<ref>Rhodes, W. M., & Conly, C. (1981). ''Crime and mobility: An empirical study.'' In P. J. Brantingham, & P. L. Brantingham (Eds.), Environmental Criminology (pp. 167–188). Beverly Hills7 Sage.</ref> and the odds of a neighbourhood’s being chosen increases by a factor of 1.67 for every kilometre closer to the burglar’s home it is located<ref>Bernasco Wim and Nieuwbeerta Paul, ''How do residential burglars select target areas? A new approach to the analysis of Criminal Location Choice'', Brit. J. Criminol. (2005) 44, 296-315</ref>. |
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| High levels of unemployment || Increases likelihood of targetting || High levels of unemployment are associated with higher levels of burglary<ref>Kepple NJ, Freisthler B., ''Exploring the ecological association between crime and medical marijuana dispensaries.'',J Stud Alcohol Drugs. 2012 Jul;73(4):523-30</ref>. In fact a study showed that increased unemployment in one year predicted increased violence in the next year<ref>Farrington David P., Langan Patrick A., and Tonry Michael, ''Cross-National Studies in Crime and Justice'', September 2004, NCJ 200988, pag. 26</ref>. |
| High levels of unemployment || Increases likelihood of targetting || High levels of unemployment are associated with higher levels of burglary<ref>Kepple NJ, Freisthler B., ''Exploring the ecological association between crime and medical marijuana dispensaries.'',J Stud Alcohol Drugs. 2012 Jul;73(4):523-30</ref>. In fact a study showed that increased unemployment in one year predicted increased violence in the next year<ref>Farrington David P., Langan Patrick A., and Tonry Michael, ''Cross-National Studies in Crime and Justice'', September 2004, NCJ 200988, pag. 26</ref>. |
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| + | | Location near access route or in suburban area || || |
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| − | | Low levels of ownership || Decreases the inhibitions for committing the crime || Uncertainty of ownership can reduce responsibility and increase the likelihood of crime and anti-social behaviour going unchallenged<ref>Home Office, ''Safer Places. The planning system and crime prevention'', 2004</ref>. |
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| + | | Presence of ATMs or (atttractive) shops || || |
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| − | | High expected levels of drug- or alcohol abuse || Reduces inhibitions for crime || The presence of regular abusers of alcohol or drugs has a strong correlation with the occurrence of burglary, often thought to be caused by the need for financing an addiction. Studies show that about 40% of all burglary is committed under the influence of alcohol<ref>Greenfeld, Lawrence A, ''Alcohol and crime, an analysis of national data on the prevalence of alcohol involvement in crime'', U,.S. Department of Justice, Office of justice Programs, April 5-7 1998, Washington D.C.</ref>. |
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| − | | Long reaction times or inadequate action of reaction force. || Decreases likelihood of apprehension || Untimely or inappropriate reactions to violence lead to a perception of little control, which will increase perceived risk for the public and decrease perceived risk for the perpetrators. Also, reducing the impact of an assault (by timely intervention) will also be impossoble and lead to greater effects of incidents. |
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| − | | High percentage of single family detached homes || Increases the perceived reward and vulnerability || Single family detached houses are often attractive targets–with greater rewards – and more difficult to secure because they have multiple access points <ref name="lamm">Lamm Weisel Deborah, ''Burglary of Single-Family Houses'', Problem-Oriented Guides for Police, Guide No. 18</ref>. |
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| − | | Large residential areas || Increases attractiveness of area || The number of residential units in a neighbourhood influences the chance of this neighbourhood to be chosen by burglars. When the number of residential units in a neighbourhood increases by 1000, the odds of being chosen rises by a factor of 1.35.<ref name="bernasco">Bernasco Wim and Nieuwbeerta Paul, ''How do residential burglars select target areas? A new approach to the analysis of Criminal Location Choice'', Brit. J. Criminol. (2005) 44, 296-315</ref> |
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| − | | Increased ethnic heterogeneity || unknown || Ethnic heterogeneity is associated with higher levels of burglary. A study<ref name="bernasco"></ref> showed that an increase of 10% in heterogeneity in a neigbourhood makes it a factor 1.13 more likely to be chosen by burglars. |
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| − | | High amounts of traffic || Increases the visibility of targets || Houses near major thoroughfares are more likely to catch the attention of burglars passing by. Moreover, it is more difficult to distinguish residents and visitors from strangers in heavily traveled areas.<ref name="lamm"></ref> |
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| − | | Multiple accesses and exits to neighbourhood || Decreases the risk of apprehension || Multiple access ways, particularly when limited in surveillance, provide good access and exit opportunities for criminals. Alleys, for example, provide both access and escape for burglars, and limit visibility to neighbors. In addition, large side yards facilitate access to the backs of houses.<ref name="lamm"></ref> |
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| − | * proximity |
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| − | * protection level in surrounding areas |
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| − | * no relation with drugs or ethnicity |
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| − | * lie of the area: travel to less-security conscious areas (satellite towns around cities) |
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| − | * type of commercial enterprise |
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| − | * limited planning, high degree of |
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| − | * young perpetrators |
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=== Socio-economic circumstances=== |
=== Socio-economic circumstances=== |
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Revision as of 17:33, 11 February 2013
Ram raid is a particular technique for burglars to gain access to primarily commercial premises, by means of driving -usually stolen- vehicles into locked or closed entrances, exits or windows.
Contents
Description
This act has occurred since at least the mid 1930s. The term came into widespread use after a series of such raids in Belfast in 1979 that was covered in news reports and in countries such as Australia that inspired a series of similar crimes.
[1]Notably, large trucks are used to break into technology companies and steal high-value equipment for resale on the black market.
Out of town retail parks and industrial parks are often targets due to their largely deserted nature after day time business hours, together with the relatively high-value products often on sale (e.g. electronics).
In recent years, ram raiding with excavators/diggers to target ATM machines, has risen significantly[2].
Contributing circumstances
Known circumstances to influence the likelihood or effect of burglary, are presented in the table below:
| Contributing Circumstance | Influence | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of surveillance. | Decreases risk of detection. | A low level of surveillance, particularly round-the-clock surveillance, decreases the perceived risk of detection for a perpetrator and thereby increases the attractiveness. |
| High levels of ram-raid in the vicinity. | Increases likelihood of targeting. | The distance to known places where offenders live matters. On average, burglars travel 2,6 km to commit their crimes[3] and the odds of a neighbourhood’s being chosen increases by a factor of 1.67 for every kilometre closer to the burglar’s home it is located[4]. |
| High levels of unemployment | Increases likelihood of targetting | High levels of unemployment are associated with higher levels of burglary[5]. In fact a study showed that increased unemployment in one year predicted increased violence in the next year[6]. |
| Location near access route or in suburban area | ||
| Presence of ATMs or (atttractive) shops |
Socio-economic circumstances
Although there is no real scientific consensus with respect to the causal relationship between the socio-economic background and property crime like robberies or (ram)raids, Australian research, for example, illustrates that long term unemployment amongst young male adolescents has a substantial effect on property crime rates[7].
Enthorf and Spengler(2002)[8] find that planning-intense offences like breaking and entering, robbery (ram raids) and violence respond relatively slow to changes in the socio-economic conditions compared to other types of crime like drug and alcohol abuse and violent crime. According to the authors, this may reflect that in a first response to unfortunate social and economic developments some of the affected might become attracted to alcohol and drug abuse, which in a later phase has to be financed with criminal activities by committing property crimes like breaking and entering.
Impacts
Economic impact
Ram raids lead to considerable costs in both a direct (primary) and a indirect (secondary) way[9]. Direct costs of ram raids come in the form of:
- Preventive costs in anticipation of ram raids (e.g. security measures, insurance);
- Material and immaterial costs as a consequence of ram raids (e.g. physical damage, repairments, medical costs, mental harm); and
- Responsive costs to ram raids (e.g. the costs of detection and prevention, persecution, support trial, etc.).
In addition, the secondary economic impact of criminal offences has to be considered. Violent crime not only leads to financial or physical damage and prevention costs, but also indirectly influences the local/regional and national economy of a country. According to Detotto and Otranto [10],“crime acts like a tax on the entire economy: it discourages domestic and foreign direct investments[11]. On a more local and regional level, economists define economic impact on business, property value, tourism and quality of life (social capital).
Measures
Commercial properties in areas prone to ram-raids often erect strong barriers or obstructions, such as bollards, to discourage such attacks. ATM centres are also victims of ram-raiding.
Many companies have come up with solutions to ram-raiding.[14] Everything from electronic bollards to electronic barriers have been employed to keep property from the raiders. Another solution is security guards, but teams of "round the clock" security are expensive and often not the most economical way of dealing with ram-raiding.
Footnotes and references
- ↑ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5uvkfoghUo
- ↑ for example in July 2012 (UK example): http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-19026835
- ↑ Rhodes, W. M., & Conly, C. (1981). Crime and mobility: An empirical study. In P. J. Brantingham, & P. L. Brantingham (Eds.), Environmental Criminology (pp. 167–188). Beverly Hills7 Sage.
- ↑ Bernasco Wim and Nieuwbeerta Paul, How do residential burglars select target areas? A new approach to the analysis of Criminal Location Choice, Brit. J. Criminol. (2005) 44, 296-315
- ↑ Kepple NJ, Freisthler B., Exploring the ecological association between crime and medical marijuana dispensaries.,J Stud Alcohol Drugs. 2012 Jul;73(4):523-30
- ↑ Farrington David P., Langan Patrick A., and Tonry Michael, Cross-National Studies in Crime and Justice, September 2004, NCJ 200988, pag. 26
- ↑ See, e.g.: Chapman, B., D Weatherburn, C.A. Kapuscinski, M. Chilvers and S. Roussel (2002). Unemployment duration, schooling and property crime. CEPR Working paper
- ↑ Entorf, H., H. Spengler (2002). Crime in Europe; Causes and Con-sequences. Springer-Verlag Berlin
- ↑ Primary economic impact (or direct effects) are generally defined as the initial, immediate economic output generated by a specific cause (in this case a criminal offence). Secondary economic impact (or indirect effects) are generated each time a subsequent transaction is made, for example, the impact of crime on the real estate value in the neighbourhood.
- ↑ Detotto,C. and E. Otranto (2010). Does crime affect Economic growth? KYKLOS, Vol.63–August 2010-No.3, 330-345.
- ↑ Foreign direct investment (FDI) is a direct investment by a business or enterprise in a foreign economy.
- ↑ add specific measures
- ↑ add specific measures
- ↑ 'Raminator' foils ATM ram raids. The Daily Telegraph. 21 Aug. 2008.
