SUPPLY BY THEFT Does the Market for Second-hand Goods Play a Role in Keeping Crime

This paper—composed around a number of hypotheses—explores the possible effects of the market for stolen goods, the process of buying stolen goods and insurance against theft on levels of acquisitive crime. It suggests that a hitherto neglected link exists between approaches to understanding/controlling crime, which focus upon the criminal event, and those which seek to do the same by concentrating upon the structural reasons for criminality. Further, a number of plausible processes are identified that together suggest there is a complex interconnected relationship between the mechanisms involved in buying and selling stolen goods, burglary, and other theft. Knowledge of demand for second-hand goods may affect decisions to begin stealing, to continue to steal, where to steal, and what to steal. As changes in society influence the manufacture, advertising, desirability, levels of ownership, and demand for certain goods, these goods in turn become 'suitable targets'for theft and resale to those who cannot afford or do not wish to pay high-street prices. It is hoped that this paper will provide some impetus for the future development of a programme of research and action research into the effect of demand for second-hand goods on levels of burglary and other thefts, leading to the development of new methods of crime prevention. Against a background of near doubling in numbers of acquisitive crimes committed i