Weekly crime focus

Prieto Curiel, R. Weekly crime concentration. J Quant Criminol (2021) https://doi.org/10.1007/s10940-021-09533-6

Commentary

This study was conducted with the aim of examining and visualizing the temporal concentration of different crime types and to investigate if its intensity varies according to the different moments of the week.

The study is based on more than 220,000 crimes reported to the Mexico City Police Department between January 2016 and March 2020 to determine the date and time of the crimes and detect moments when the intensity exceeds the average frequency.

The results show that temporary concentrations of crime are a stable sign of different types of crimes. The intensity of robberies and thefts is more uniform from Monday to Sunday, but bank robberies are so concentrated during the week that we can capture most of the burning moments in a few hours of the week.

Concentrations are not evenly distributed across the city, with some areas having much higher temporary concentrations of crime.

Although crime is shown to be highly concentrated when observed in a weekly pattern, different types of crimes and areas show substantially different levels of concentration.

Personally, I think it is natural to have a bias when it comes to objects such as banks and things that are related to people's paydays. I think so.