The influence of the presence of a crime generator on property crime patterns in an urban environment

Objectives. Building on crime pattern theory, we test the influence of the presence of a crime generator on property crime patterns in an urban environment. Methods. The relocation of a soccer stadium in Ghent, Belgium created the conditions for a natural experiment. Using a 38-month window of police recorded property crime data for all non-game days, we compare crime patterns before and after the relocation in the areas surrounding the old and new stadium. Property crime pattern changes in the affected areas are compared with city-level changes. Results. As expected, the stadium’s decommissioning led to a significant drop in property crimes in the immediate vicinity. The new stadium’s opening was associated with a significant increase in property crimes in the surrounding area. Although a city-wide decrease in property crimes was observed, the decrease in the decommissioned stadium’s area was significantly larger. Conclusion. Large sports venues, such as soccer stadiums, are archetypal examples of crime generators. They attract large crowds on a regular basis for reasons unrelated to crime. Mixed into these visitors are motivated offenders that may be on the lookout for criminal opportunities and return to exploit them at a later stage. The current analysis demonstrates that the presence of a sports venue boosts property crimes on non-game days in the surrounding area.