ABSTRACT
Too often, victim perspectives are forgotten in the discourse around crime and offending, especially for so-called ‘low level’ offences such as theft. This chapter brings the victim perspective to the forefront, focusing on both short- and long-term effects of being a victim of property crime. A range of property offences are discussed, including burglary, robbery, and fraud. Financial, physical, and psychological impacts are discussed, with empirical research and case studies used to illustrate the sometimes significant effects many victims of property crime experience. Factors affecting the impact of property crime – for example, age, gender, severity of offence, and post-event support – and how victims change their behaviour in light of victimisation are also discussed. The methods used in existing research are critiqued and recommendations made for how future research can fill these gaps.
