Examining the Boost Account for Repeat and Near Repeat Burglary in Canada

Abstract

Research suggests that previously burglarized targets, and targets located near such locations, are at an increased risk of being victimized. However, this elevated risk is only temporary and appears to subside over time. The boost account is one theory that attempts to describe the occurrence of repeat, and near repeat, burglaries. The boost account suggests that these burglaries are the result of the same offender returning to burglarize a dwelling that they have successfully burglarized in the past, or one near the previously victimized target. In the current study, we first determined the repeat and near repeat space-time clustering of solved residential burglaries committed in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, from 2007 to 2008. The results indicate that solved Edmonton burglaries do cluster together in time and space (i.e., residences within 700 m of a previous burgled target are at an increased risk for a period of 7 days). We also investigated whether repeat and near repeat burglaries in the dataset were more likely than distant burglaries to be committed by the same offender. It was found that serial offending by the same offender offers a viable rationale for much of the repeat and near repeat burglaries committed in Edmonton from 2007 to 2008. The practical implications of these results, as well as some limitations and directions for future research, are discussed.