Seeing through a Burglar’s Eyes. Assessing Behaviour and Deterrence in Virtual Reality Scenarios

• In Event: Context, Virtual Reality and Decision Making

Abstract

Research about domestic burglary has a tradition in criminology and much is known about spatial and temporal patterns as well as the characteristics and types of offenders. Nonetheless we still know very little about how burglars behave at the scene of the crime, how decisions are made on the spot and what role unconscious behaviour plays. Unfortunately, we can´t get information about such signals from official records and questionnaires. By using virtual reality technology, we can get a first-hand view on how burglars explore and scout a neighbourhood.

In this presentation, we discuss how physical features of an environment influence burglary decision-making and behaviour. By manipulating physical features in a virtual environment, we are able to examine how they influence traditional variables of interest in criminology including, perceptual deterrence and perceived reward. We then link these decision-making aspects to burglars’ overall willingness to burgle a house. Finally, we combine spatial data of walking patters and eye-tracking data to take a unique perspective on how the physical environment influences burglary decision-making and behaviour.

Authors

• Dominik Gerstner, Max Planck Institute for the Study of Crime, Security and Law

• Carmen Sergiou, Leiden University

• Claire Nee, University of Portsmouth

• Henk Elffers, NSCR

• Jean-Louis van Gelder, Max Planck Institute for the Study of Crime, Security and Law