Summary
This report provides a brief introduction to the latest research on opportunity theory as it relates to crime causation, makes the case that opportunity should be viewed as the third principal cause of crime. Opportunity theory presents criminal behaviour as the result of an interaction between the person and the setting. It rests on a single principle: that easy or tempting opportunities entice people into criminal action. The last part of the report identifies 10 principles of opportunity and crime, and illustrates how they apply to real life situations.
Contents
A. Introduction.
B. The New Opportunity Theories. – 1. The routine activity approach. – 2. Crime pattern theory. – 3. The rational choice perspective.
C. Ten Principles of Opportunity and Crime. – 1. Opportunities play a role in causing all crime. – 2. Crime opportunities are highly specific. – 3. Crime opportunities are concentrated in time and space. – 4. Crime opportunities depend on everyday movements of activity. – 5. One crime produces opportunities for another. – 6. Some products offer more tempting crime opportunities. – 7. Social and technological changes produce new crime opportunities. – 8. Crime can be prevented by reducing opportunities. – 9. Reducing opportunities does not usually displace crime. – 10. Focused opportunity reduction can produce wider declines in crime.