Citation

MacDonald JE, Gifford R. J. Environ. Psychol. 1989; 9(3): 193-205.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1989, Academic Press)

DOI

10.1016/S0272-4944(89)80034-9

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This study tests the defensible space hypotheses that surveillability and evidence of territorial concern will deter burglars. Fifty photographs of single-family dwellings were assessed for many individual cues, five cue categories, and for economic value. Forty-three male subjects (20 youths, 23 adults), who had been convicted of residential breaking and entering, sorted the photographs along a 7-point scale of Vulnerability (likelihood of being a burglary target). As the theory predicts, easily surveillable houses were rated as the least vulnerable targets. Contrary to the theory, evidence of territorial concern had no effect (traces of occupany, actual barriers) or actually increased vulnerability (symbolic barriers). Burglars apparently assume that occupants who care for the exterior of their house possess goods that make the house a profitable target. Concept-based cue categories were more useful in predicting Vulnerability than were individual cues or cue category scores based on simple summations of individual cues. Over half of the variance in Vulnerability could be accounted for by a revised model of defensible space for burglary in single-family dwellings.