Property Crime and Crime Prevention on Farms in Australia

Routine activities theory was employed to guide a study of property-related victimisation on Australian farms, involving crimes such as the theft of stock, chemicals, fuel, machinery and equipment, and vandalism. The relationship between victimisation and physical deterrence factors was examined, and the extent and pattern of security practices undertaken by farmers and their possible association with property crime was assessed. Data for this research comes from a survey mailed in November 2000 to 1100 randomly selected farmers across the state of New South Wales. The analyses revealed farm crime to be highly situational. Certain ecological factors, such as the type of terrain, proximity to urban centres and highways, and whether or not farm buildings were visible from the farm residence, created varying levels of vulnerability to crime. Different traits were associated with different kinds of crime. No association between security practices on farms and lower rates of victimisation was found.