Dr Joe Clare1
1University Of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
Abstract:
Purpose: Over the last 20 years, the Drug Use Monitoring in Australia (DUMA) program survey has asked arrestees questions about stolen goods on seven occasions. This data provides a unique longitudinal window into property offenders’ target selection decisions and the changing nature of the stolen goods markets in Australia.
Issue: This research utilises the CRAVED (concealable, removable, available, valuable, enjoyable, and disposable) opportunity-based framework (Clarke, 1999) to examine these longitudinal patterns within the context of the global crime drop (e.g., Farrell, Tilley, & Tseloni, 2014), trends towards a cashless economy (Reserve Bank of Australia, 2020), and moves towards an online second hand goods preference in Australia (Hellier, 2018).
Nature & scope: There has been variation in the exact questions asked across the seven DUMA iterations that have focused on stolen goods. Where possible, the research will outline changes in (a) targeted property, (b) targeted locations, (c) what offenders do with stolen property, (d) the estimated value received for stolen goods, and (e) the use of the internet to sell stolen goods. This data will be supplemented by parallel research the authors are doing into stolen goods.
Conclusion: Findings will be discussed in terms of relevance for crime prevention policy and practice, emphasizing the importance of continuing to design-out crime opportunities with emerging technological changes, reducing repeat victimisation (property type and locations) whenever possible, and assisting residents/businesses to make informed crime prevention decisions.
Biography:
Dr Joe Clare is a quantitative criminologist who has worked as a researcher for universities and governments in Australia and Canada. He has experience in conducting applied, operations-focused research with emergency first responders and criminal justice agencies. Joe is committed to helping applied practitioners utilize theory, research, and analysis to enhance the understanding of problems they are encountering with a view to developing, implementing, and evaluating novel, creative intervention strategies. At the highest level, his research focus is on using available data to contribute to solving applied problems. Joe’s current research interests include policing research, crime prevention, and academic misconduct.