Property crimes and local structural characteristics: a spatial analysis between brazilian municipalities

Abstract

The objective of this study was to analyze the spatial pattern of crime distribution (mainly property crime) throughout Brazilian municipalities, investigating their relation with structural characteristics. To reach this aim, property crime agglomerates (CA) were measured and the probability of a municipality having a CA was estimated using the Spatial Probit mode. The analysis identified that formal control, surveillance environment and social intervention as well as the availability of targets and offenders are decisive elements for a municipality to have a CA. Regionally, the surveillance environment and the availability of targets and offenders were the predominant elements.