After reviewing the “Becoming a Victim” resources, I believe that routine activities theory best explains how people and businesses increase their odds of becoming victims of crime. This theory suggests that the likelihood of victimization is dependent on the convergence in time and space of three elements: a motivated offender, a suitable target, and the absence of a capable guardian. In other words, if an offender is motivated to commit a crime and there is a suitable target (such as an unlocked car or an unattended purse), and there is no one there to prevent the crime (such as a security guard or witnesses), then victimization is more likely to occur. This theory suggests that we can reduce victimization by reducing the number of opportunities for offenders to commit crimes – for example, by locking car doors, being aware of our surroundings, and having adequate security measures in place.
For your two response posts, respond to one peer who chose the same theory that you did and a peer who chose a different theory. In your responses, consider the following questions:
- Is there something in their support of their chosen theory that you did not consider?
- Are there other weaknesses or shortcomings of their theory that you feel should be considered?
Remember to be respectful and polite in your responses to your peers.