Volume 28, Issue 6 pp. 1486-1509
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Mapping the unseen: Dissecting property crime dynamics in urban Malaysia through spatial analysis

Azizul Ahmad

Azizul Ahmad

Centre for Spatially Integrated Digital Humanities (CSIDH), Faculty of Social Sciences & Humanities, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Kota Samarahan, Malaysia

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Tarmiji Masron

Corresponding Author

Tarmiji Masron

Centre for Spatially Integrated Digital Humanities (CSIDH), Faculty of Social Sciences & Humanities, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Kota Samarahan, Malaysia

Correspondence

Tarmiji Masron, Centre for Spatially Integrated Digital Humanities (CSIDH), Faculty of Social Sciences & Humanities, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Kota Samarahan, Sarawak 94300, Malaysia.

Email: [email protected]

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Syahrul Nizam Junaini

Syahrul Nizam Junaini

Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Kota Samarahan, Malaysia

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Yoshinari Kimura

Yoshinari Kimura

Graduate School of Literature and Human Sciences, Osaka Metropolitan University, Osaka, Japan

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Mohamad Hardyman Barawi

Mohamad Hardyman Barawi

Faculty of Cognitive Science and Human Development, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Kota Samarahan, Malaysia

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Norita Jubit

Norita Jubit

Borneo Institute for Indigenous Studies (BorIIS), Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia

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Mohd Sofian Redzuan

Mohd Sofian Redzuan

Centre for Spatially Integrated Digital Humanities (CSIDH), Faculty of Social Sciences & Humanities, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Kota Samarahan, Malaysia

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Luqman Haqim Bismelah

Luqman Haqim Bismelah

Centre for Spatially Integrated Digital Humanities (CSIDH), Faculty of Social Sciences & Humanities, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Kota Samarahan, Malaysia

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Asykal Syakinah Mohd Ali

Asykal Syakinah Mohd Ali

Centre for Spatially Integrated Digital Humanities (CSIDH), Faculty of Social Sciences & Humanities, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Kota Samarahan, Malaysia

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First published: 18 June 2024
Citations: 4

Abstract

Extensive research over the years has illuminated how urban land use and development intricately influence property crime dynamics. Yet, there remains a notable paucity of simultaneous explorations of spatial–temporal patterns and their correlation with urban geography. This study aims to bridge this gap by employing advanced spatial analytical techniques, providing a nuanced understanding of how property crime is distributed and how it evolves within the urban fabric of Malaysia. This research rigorously investigates the spatial–temporal patterns of property crime within the urban context of Kuala Lumpur and Selangor in Malaysia, utilizing a novel combination of mean center and standard deviational ellipse methodologies. Concentrating on the regions of Selangor, the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, and the Federal Territory of Putrajaya, the study meticulously analyzes property crime data spanning from 2015 to 2020. This analysis uncovers pivotal insights into the distribution and trends of criminal activities. The integration of these spatial analytical techniques not only facilitates the identification of prevalent hotspots and directional tendencies in property crimes but also probes into their association with urban land use and developmental patterns. The outcomes of this study shed light on the intricate interplay between the incidence of crime and urban spatial configurations, thereby yielding significant theoretical and practical ramifications. The research makes a substantial contribution to the disciplines of criminological geography and urban planning, underscoring the indispensable role of advanced spatial analysis in devising robust crime prevention mechanisms and bolstering the safety of urban environments.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST STATEMENT

We have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT

Data sharing is not applicable to this article as no new data were created or analyzed in this study.

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