Author Description

This study looks at the car crime 'career', to assess offenders' perceptions of criminal justice sanctions, and to investigate some of the situational factors that affect choice of targets. Chapter 2 presents the criminal biography and social background of the sample. Chapter 3 examines the car crime career and how it starts, develops and stops. The findings suggest that for very young offenders, excessive levels of car theft are more akin to an adolescent infatuation or obsession, with a strong degree of personal pay-off in terms of excitement, status and self esteem. However, as careers progressed the opportunity for financial gain began to feature more prominently in motivations for offending. Chapter 4 considers results of particular relevance to crime prevention such as where, when and what vehicles are vulnerable, and car security. Chapter 5 discusses the criminal law response and the effectiveness of sanctions as a deterrent to car theft. The results of the study are reviewed in Chapter 6, and their main policy implications identified.