NCJ Number
231133
Journal
European Journal on Criminal Policy and Research Volume: 16 Issue: 1 Dated: March 2010 Pages: 1-13
Date Published
March 2010
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This article explores itinerant crime groups by Belgian law enforcement agencies.
Abstract
Starting a decade ago, property crimes by Eastern European crime gangs have gained attention of Belgian law enforcement agencies. Due to the mobile nature of these groups, the term 'itinerant crime groups' has been used. The aim of this article is to explore what is incorporated in this term. By analyzing 27 case files, a large degree of variation is revealed. Groups differ in size, organizational structure, offender characteristics, the crimes in which they are involved and the methods they use. Following these features, two main types of itinerant crime groups can be distinguished, each with their own diversity. As such, the observed heterogeneity is larger than might be suspected by looking at the policy definition of the phenomenon. References (Published Abstract)