Spatio-temporal analysis of theft-related crimes in inefficient urban textures: A case study of the central part of Tehran

Crimes are taken into account as the most common social problems observed in most cities across the world which can also bring about negative effects on mental, physical, and financial aspects of individuals’ lives. Thus, the aim of this study was to perform a spatio-temporal analysis of theft-related crimes in inefficient urban spaces and textures of the central part of Tehran (Districts ۱۱ and ۱۲), Iran. To this end, a comparative analysis research design was used and then the spatio-temporal patterns of theft-related crimes committed in the central part of Tehran were identified and investigated through statistical and graphic-based tests within the geographic information system (GIS). The information required in terms of the types and the number of crimes was also obtained via library method from the Law Enforcement Force of the Islamic Republic of Iran (Islamic Republic of Iran Police) in Tehran metropolitan area. The findings of the present study revealed that the crime hotspots had been distributed in a clustered pattern in the central part of Tehran. Moreover; temporal analysis of months, days of the week, and overnight hours of the opportunities for the occurrence of all theft-related crimes in the central part of Tehran demonstrated that the third ten days of the month, three final seasons of the year, and the first starting days of the week between ۱۰ a.m. and ۲ p.m. were the peak times of the crimes committed. The findings suggested that the large number of urban worn-out textures, high levels of intrusiveness in these areas, presence of abandoned lands, as well as lack or absence of some public urban services and facilities for citizens could affect the geographical distribution of types and number of crimes as well as the formation of their spatial patterns. It was assumed that renovation and reconstruction of worn-out textures, organization of buildings including the removal of corners, unfinished buildings, as well as ruined ones, modification of the physical structure of residential areas, widening streets under ۶ meters, creating passages for blind alleys, encouraging residents to maintain beauty and security through holding sociocultural programs, locating police stations, and establishing healthy entertainment and recreational centers to increase official surveillance in the central part of Tehran could reduce the possibility of the damage caused by such textures and finally lower crime rates.