Abstract
This article explores spatial patterns of crimes, their dynamics in structure, time and space since 1990 until 2010 in Klaipėda, Lithuania. A period of research involves the changes during the post-soviet time. The research is combined of two sets of data. One set combined by social geographic indicators (changes of population, unemployment, crimes and their structure, and social geographic features as density of crimes, distribution of spatial patterns of crimes). Another set of data combined by geo-information of main categories of crimes (thefts, robberies, criminal damages, hooliganism, extortions, grievous and intending bodily harms, producing and selling of narcotics and homemade alcohol, sexual assaults). The Kernel method was used as a key measure to estimate the changes of spatial patterns of crimes with their geographic shapes, scopes and density. The data was processed with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and elaborated in cartographic representations. The research determined that a majority of criminal activities are mostly located along the main streets and around shopping centres. The distribution of criminal activities is explained by the concepts of opportunity theory and daily routine theory. Despite the changes of crime rates and unemployment, segregation of society and shrinking of urban population in Klaipėda city, the spatial patterns of crimes over the two decades were distributed more extensively but with lower density.
Highlights
Shrinking cities are urban areas that are experiencing population decline, along with an inability to maintain previous levels of infrastructure and services
According to the routine activities theory, this economic, commercial environment is attractive for offenders mostly. These processes are leading towards looking for answers: why does crime level remain so high, when population is decreasing, especially in the inner city? What are the reasons for changes of spatial patterns of crimes in Klaipėda city? How could these changes be explained by opportunity and daily routine theories?
An analysis of crimes and their changes in structure, time and space was done according to the statistical data provided by Statistics Lithuania, Klaipėda City Police Headquarters
Summary
Shrinking cities are urban areas that are experiencing population decline, along with an inability to maintain previous levels of infrastructure and services. These cities typically result from a combination of deindustrialization, suburbanization and demographic shifts In case of Klaipėda, the change in density of population is related to emigration and suburbanization that is a consequence of social segregation within society. According to the routine activities theory, this economic, commercial environment is attractive for offenders mostly These processes are leading towards looking for answers: why does crime level remain so high, when population is decreasing, especially in the inner city? These processes are leading towards looking for answers: why does crime level remain so high, when population is decreasing, especially in the inner city? What are the reasons for changes of spatial patterns of crimes in Klaipėda city? How could these changes be explained by opportunity and daily routine theories?
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