Unisa’s senior lecturer in Forensic Investigation, Prof Rudolph Zinn at the launch of his book |
Over 18 000 house robberies are committed in South Africa every year, a frightening statistic indeed, and one of many explored in the book entitled Home invasion: robbers disclose what you should know by Unisa’s senior lecturer in Forensic Investigation, Prof Rudolph Zinn.
The book, which was launched on 19 May 2010 at the Institute of Security Studies (ISS), documents the research of Prof Zinn who, in 2006/2007, interviewed a group of convicted and incarcerated offenders of house robberies in Gauteng prisons. He found that the average house robber is in his 20s and is a very experienced criminal who has committed numerous crimes by the time he is arrested.
Speaking at the launch, Prof Zinn, who is also a former detective in the special investigation unit of the South African Police Service, indicated that criminals plan house robberies in advance, after first obtaining inside information about the house and its residents. He explained that what is unique to South African crime is the violence associated with the crime. He believes that if perpetrators are not caught for the first crime they commit, the type of crime they continue to involve themselves in escalates. He said findings indicated that the respondents target all race groups and that house robbery is a crime that does not know a specific colour. The main motivation is financial gain, mainly in the form of jewellery or cash, and not items that can be traced.
The book is essential to South African residents as it offers vital information and advice on how to safeguard your home and minimise danger if you and your family are attacked.
Home invasion also explores measures to decrease the high number of violent house robberies, one of which includes a change of attitude and values in South Africa, as previous studies indicate that crime is caused by a shortage of integrity within a nation.
Prof Zinn also believes that the high crime rate is due to an ineffective policing model, which is more reactive than proactive: there is a fragmented approach, very little crime intelligence, limited sharing of information, police are focused on crime and not the criminal, and there is more focus on crime displacement rather than on crime prevention.
He suggests that an alternative option is intelligence-led policing, where information is obtained from all possible sources, then collated, analysed and processed to become crime intelligence, as it is important to “know your enemy”. Strategic intelligence provides insight and understanding from which broad strategies and long-term objectives can be formulated.
ISS Programme Head, Gareth Newham, described Home invasion as valuable information that the public should be fully aware off. “This is solid research delivered to the non-academic public. It speaks to the risks they face and ways they can prevent these crimes from occurring.” |
