E. Kruisbergen, Marco B. Haas, Debora E.G. Moolenaar, Lisa van Es, Joanieke M.A. Snijders, Lise Houwing, Ben Stickle
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
COVID-19 caused serious personal and societal damage. It also created, however, a unique natural experiment. How did the pandemic affect crime levels? In this article, we analyse unique empirical data for the Netherlands, covering January 2016–March 2021, to assess if and how crime patterns changed during the first 12 months of COVID-19-related measures. Domestic violence, which was expected to rise, did not increase, nor did distraction burglary. Residential burglary, bicycle theft and pickpocketing, however, decreased considerably, especially during (some of the) weeks when lockdown measures were into force. Online crime rates on the other hand increased. An opportunity theoretical approach regarding crime offers a good explanation for these changes.
期刊介绍:
The European Journal of Criminology is a refereed journal published by SAGE publications and the European Society of Criminology. It provides a forum for research and scholarship on crime and criminal justice institutions. The journal published high quality articles using varied approaches, including discussion of theory, analysis of quantitative data, comparative studies, systematic evaluation of interventions, and study of institutions of political process. The journal also covers analysis of policy, but not description of policy developments. Priority is given to articles that are relevant to the wider Europe (within and beyond the EU) although findings may be drawn from other parts of the world.