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Standardizing the Display of IBR Data: Property Variables

Additional Examples of Displaying Property Variables

Property variables have been used in various reports to show the value of unrecovered property and the types of property most often stolen.  Presented below are examples of tables using property variables.  SPSS code is presented with each table.

The first table looks at the average value of stolen property in Utah in 1998.

Example 1.  Larceny, Value of Stolen Property
Produced by the Utah Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice in Property Crime in Utah: Original Research using Incident-Based Crime Data, 1999.

Type of Larceny

 Average Property Value
Theft From Building $489.02
All Other Larceny 462.31
Theft From Motor Vehicle 281.19
From Coin-Operated Machine 320.53
Theft of Motor Vehicle Parts or Accessories 194.67
Shoplifting 94.94
Pocket-Picking 67.14

Purse-Snatching

 57.32

The top dollar values stolen in larceny offenses are thefts from buyildings and thefts from motor vehicles.  Purse-snatching, pocket-picking, and shoplifting consistently have the lowest average property value stolen.  Shoplifters may be limited in their ability to conceal large amounts of property.  Pocket-picking and purse-snatching are low due to the small amount of cash people generally have on their person.

To create this table, only larceny offenses were selected.  A table was then produced, displaying the average value of the property involved in these offenses.

Download SPSS syntax for Example 1.
Note: Please check that the variable names used in this syntax match the variable names in your data file.  If you need assistance, contact JRSA.

The next table compares the type of property stolen from juveniles and adults.   This table uses 1996 and 1997 data from the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS), but can also be derived using NIBRS data.  NOTE: The property types in the syntax have been modified to reflect NIBRS categories.

Example 2. Types of Property Stolen from Juvenile and Adult Victims
Adapted from David Finkelhor and Richard Ormrod's publication, Juvenile Victims of Property Crimes.  Published by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, December 2000.

Juveniles   Adults
Property Stolen Percentage of Items   Property Stolen Percentage of Items
Electronic, photo gear 18%   Motor vehicle or parts 19%
Clothing, luggage 17   Electronic, photo gear 10
Other personal objects 13   Other personal objects 10
Only cash 10   Tools, machines 9
Jewelry, watch, keys 9   Clothing, luggage 7
Bicycle or parts 9   Other items 6
Wallet 8   Only cash 6
Toys, recreation equipment 4   Jewelry, watch, keys 6
Other items 3   Credit cards 6
Purse 3   Wallet 6
Motor vehicle or parts 2   Bicycle or parts 3
Foor, liquor 1   Purse 3
Credit cards 1   Television, stereo, appliances 3
Collections 1   Toys, recreation equipment 3
Television, stereo, appliances <.05   Other household effects 2
Tools, machines <.05   Foor, liquor 1
Animals <.05   Farm, garden produce 1
Other household effects <.05   Handgun 1
Farm, garden produce <.05   Animals 1
Firearm (other than handgun) <.01   Silver, china <.05
Silver, china 0   Firearm (other than handgun) <.05
Handgun 0   Collections <.05

This chart was created by matching the property and victim segments, selecting property described as stolen. 

Download SPSS syntax for Example 2.
Note: Please check that the variable names used in this syntax match the variable names in your data file.  If you need assistance, contact JRSA.