An Analysis on the Repetition of Criminal Modus Operandi

The purpose of this study is to examine the repetition of criminal modus operandi(M.O.) with the data of burglary, i.e., theft through breaking and entering. As the measure of the repetition, the probability that a suspect used the same M.O. in two incidents randomly chosen from previous ones, is calculated. As a result, suspects seem to choose M.O. used in previous incidents as they commit crimes repeatedly. Besides, some M.O. are used consistently over time, though the others change from one incident to the next. Similarity among each type of burglary is also examined by factor analysis.