Open AccessVisualising property crime in Gauteng: Applying GIS to crime pattern theory
Author(s) -
Alexandra Hiropoulos,
Jeremy R. Porter
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
sa crime quarterly
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2413-3108
pISSN - 1991-3877
DOI - 10.17159/2413-3108/2014/v0i47a802
Subject(s) - property crime , property (philosophy) , criminology , order (exchange) , presentation (obstetrics) , violent crime , geographic information system , geography , sociology , business , cartography , epistemology , medicine , philosophy , finance , radiology
While the high rate of crime in South Africa has received much international attention, mainly focused on violent crime, the vast majority of offences reported to the South African Police Service concern property and other non-violent offences. The present study explores the relationship between one of the most frequently reported property crimes (thefts out of motor vehicles) and the environment in which they occur, using Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Utilising the framework of crime pattern theory, crime generators and attractors are visually examined in order to determine whether they can explain concentrations of crime. We argue that when used in conjunction with relevant social theory aimed at the examination of the determinants of crime and criminality, GIS can be a powerful practical tool in the presentation of crime data.