A number of studies have shown that individuals will show consistency in their offending behaviour when they are defined as targeting a person. For example, Heng Choon et al (2012), Piquero, Jennings & Barnes (2012) and Deane, Armstrong & Felson (2005) have all suggested that there is evidence for consistency of violent offending. Others have suggested that offenders will show consistency in their behaviour when the target of the offence is defined as property. For example, White & Labouvie (1994), Heng Choon et al (2012), and Armstrong (2008) have all identified behavioural consistency for crimes which involve property in various forms.
Canter & Youngs (2009) sum up that a range of studies have shown that individuals will show preferences for crimes involving a person or an object. However, any criminal act is multi-facated and a range of issues need to be examined when investigating consistency in action. Canter & Youngs (2009) further define this distinction as property crimes relating to outcomes which are external to an individual and person crimes relating to outcomes of an internal nature. Many of the studies could all be summed up as focussing crimes towards a Person or an Object.
