Multilevel modeling of the number of property crimes: household and area effects

This study examines household and area effects on the incidence of total property crimes and burglaries and thefts. It uses data from the 2000 British Crime Survey and the 1991 Census Small Area Statistics. Results are obtained from estimated random effects multilevel models, with an assumed negative binomial distribution of the dependent variable. Both household and area characteristics, as well as selected interactions, explain a significant portion of the variation in property crimes. There are also a large number of significant between area random variances and covariances of household characteristics. The estimated fixed and random effects may assist in advancing victimisation theory. The methods have potential for developing a better understanding of factors that give rise to crime and so assist in framing crime prevention policy