The basic study on the offender characteristics of the residential burglars

Abstract

This study aimed to construct the offender database of the residential burglars for the purpose to apply practical offender profiling. In order to attain the purpose, this study focused on whether offender characteristics were different between a group motivated by cash and a group motivated by sexuality, and whether these groups are assumed to be homogeneous samples.

Documents related to the crime based on the confessions of 168 male residential burglars were collected and analyzed. The 168 residential burglars were classified into two groups, motivated by cash (100 suspects who stole cash and/or valuables), and motivated by sexuality (68 suspects who stole female clothing and/or underwear). A questionnaire consists of three areas on the their personal background, modus operandi and police interrogation was distributed to police officers in charge of interrogation of the residential burglars at the time of their arrest. The answers which were described by police officers were then compared and analyzed using the chi-square test.

Statistical results showed significant differences in many items within three areas, which suggested that offender characteristics differ between the two groups. If both groups are dealt with as samples of the same database, it is possible that the characteristics of each group are not fully be reflected, therefore, it is considered more desirable to construct a different database based on the motives of the burglars.