Introduction

This chapter provides a rationale for the focus of the book. The background for the book and its overarching aims are presented. In particular, the book aims to highlight the extent, nature, and impact of property crime. The book strives to provide a wide range of perspectives on property crime and includes chapters which draw from both the academic literature and practice experience to provide a comprehensive overview of the topic. The introductory chapter provides a structure for the book, outlining the three core sections – namely ‘The Offence’, ‘Investigation and Prosecution’, and ‘Prevention, Intervention, and Treatment’ – and summarises the key focus of each chapter.