Theft and socially deviant perception

 

DECEMBER 12, 2012 Wednesday  Criminals Are More Likely to Target You If You're Seen as Socially Deviant Car-wash attendants who cleaned the interiors of automobiles stole loose change 30% of the time, but the rate doubled if the driver had left a beer can and a racy magazine in the car, say Ronald Burns, Patrick Kinkade, and Michael Bachmann of Texas Christian University. The experiment suggests that you're more likely to become a victim of petty crime if would-be criminals see you as more socially "deviant," the researchers say. Source: Getting hosed: Petty theft in the car wash industry and the fifth suitability criterion in routine activities theory