ABSTRACT
Acquisitive crime, offences that involve the unlawful acquisition of another’s property, is an important driver of overall crime rates, accounting for the vast majority of crime as measured through uniform surveys (Brennan, 2012; Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2014; Office for National Statistics, 2016a). Theft of various forms accounts for the majority of property crime, while robbery accounts for a much smaller proportion (Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2014; McGuire, 2004; Office for National Statistics, 2016b). What is more, acquisitive offending contributes substantially to overall offender recidivism rates. A prisoner cohort study from the UK showed that offenders whose index offence was for violence, sexual offending, or domestic violence were all most likely to return to custody for acquisitive crime (burglary, theft, or armed robbery; Coid et al., 2007). Internationally both men and women whose index offence was an acquisitive crime have higher rates of recidivism than other offender groups and tend to recividate more quickly (Boreham, Cronberg, Dollin & Pudney, 2007; Deschenes, Owen & Crow 2006; Durose, Cooper & Snyder, 2014; Home Office Report, 2010; Mulder, Vermunt, Brand, Bullens & van Marle, 2012; Payne, 2007; Thomas, Hurley & Grimes, 2002). There is strong evidence therefore that reducing acquisitive offending would have a substantial impact on a correctional agency’s overall reoffending rates, resulting in a reduction in costs to society.
