Like taking candy: why does repeat victimization occur?

Abstract

An analysis of different types of crimes give some explanations as to why such crimes are repeated. Repeated crimes examined include domestic violence, racial attacks, child sexual abuse, fights, burglary, car theft, shop theft, credit card fraud, and robbery. Common factors show these crimes are repeated because the first offense is not made known to someone in authority, risk of other offenses being detected are low due to victim response, criminal methods used are specific to individual victims, and there is a high probability that there will be other offenders.