Why do offenders commit crimes where and when they do? Improving on extant theory and empirical research in the geography of crime, this PhD project investigates how offenders’ time-specific knowledge of their environment acquired during their daily routines and the time-varying attractiveness of target areas affect offenders' crime location choices.
Existing theories assume that offenders make rational decisions, but these theories have rarely been tested experimentally. This project uses ‘honey accounts’, online accounts that have deliberately been rendered vulnerable to hacking, to allow an experimental investigation of cybercriminals’ behavior.
Why would anyone engage in risky business with a total stranger? In this project, we analyze how criminals cooperate on Dark Web markets and forums. We use rational choice and game theoretical explanations of individual trust and study effects of reputation, information diffusion and rule enforcement on exchanges in Dark Web criminal networks.
Why do crimes occur where they do? Answering this question requires an innovative project aimed at understanding offenders' decisions on where to commit crime. Crime takes place where attractive opportunities for crime overlap with awareness spaces of individuals motivated to commit crime.
Why do poachers commit crimes where and when they do? How can the vast areas of nature reserves most effectively be patrolled by ranger teams. Starting from an environmental criminology perspective, this PhD project investigates poaching problems in South Africa.