Understanding Bag Theft Within Licensed Premises in Westminster: Identifying Initial Steps Towards Prevention

Research into crime within licensed premises has so far concentrated on violence and assault. However, with the push towards 24-h cities currently being seen in the U.K., it is important to examine the additional role pubs and bars play in generating offences such as theft. This paper presents the results of a micro-level study conducted on licensed premises with the London Borough of Westminster. The results show that theft represents a signifi cant threat to patrons and that theft in bars tends to be unevenly distributed across venues. More detailed analyses show that bags are the most commonly items targeted and that patrons perceptions of risky locations within a bar are not always accurate. Security Journal (2006) 19, 3 – 21. doi: 10.1057/palgrave.sj.8350006

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