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Geospatial Patterns of Property Crime in Thailand: A Socioeconomic Perspective for Sustainable Cities

Author

Listed:
  • Hiranya Sritart

    (Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Thammasat University, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand)

  • Hiroyuki Miyazaki

    (Center for Spatial Information Science, University of Tokyo, Chiba 277-8568, Japan
    GLODAL, Inc., Yokohama 231-0062, Japan)

  • Sakiko Kanbara

    (Kobe City College of Nursing, Kobe 651-2103, Japan)

  • Somchat Taertulakarn

    (Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Thammasat University, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand)

Abstract

Property crime is a pressing issue in maintaining social order and urban sustainability, particularly in regions marked by pronounced socioeconomic disparity. While the link between socioeconomic stress and crime is well established, regional variations in Thailand have not been fully examined. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to examine spatial patterns of property crime and identify the potential associations between property crime and socioeconomic environment across Thailand. Using nationally compiled property-crime data from official sources across all provinces of Thailand, we employed geographic information system (GIS) tools to conduct a spatial cluster analysis at the sub-national level across 76 provinces. Both global and local statistical techniques were applied to identify spatial associations between property-crime rates and neighborhood-level socioeconomic conditions. The results revealed that property-crime clusters are primarily concentrated in the south, while low-crime areas dominate parts of the north and northeast regions. To analyze the spatial dynamics of property crime, we used geospatial statistical models to investigate the influence of socioeconomic variables across provinces. We found that property-crime rates were significantly associated with monthly income, areas experiencing high levels of household debt, migrant populations, working-age populations, an uneducated labor force, and population density. Identifying associated factors and mapping geographic regions with significant spatial clusters is an effective approach for determining where issues concentrate and for deepening understanding of the underlying patterns and drivers of property crime. This study offers actionable insights for enhancing safety, resilience, and urban sustainability in Thailand’s diverse regional contexts by highlighting geographies of vulnerability.

Suggested Citation

  • Hiranya Sritart & Hiroyuki Miyazaki & Sakiko Kanbara & Somchat Taertulakarn, 2025. "Geospatial Patterns of Property Crime in Thailand: A Socioeconomic Perspective for Sustainable Cities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-25, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:14:p:6567-:d:1704624
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Yuzhe Teng, 2025. "Does Wealth Decrease Victimization in Property Crime?: Evidence from Thailand," Asian Journal of Applied Economics/ Applied Economics Journal, Kasetsart University, Faculty of Economics, Center for Applied Economic Research, vol. 32(1), pages 15-29.
    2. Kawachi, Ichiro & Kennedy, Bruce P. & Wilkinson, Richard G., 1999. "Crime: social disorganization and relative deprivation," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 48(6), pages 719-731, March.
    3. Itskovich, Eran & Factor, Roni, 2023. "Economic inequality and crime: The role of social resistance," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 86(C).
    4. Anders Engvall & Magnus Andersson, 2014. "The Dynamics of Conflict in Southern Thailand," Asian Economic Papers, MIT Press, vol. 13(3), pages 169-189, Fall.
    5. Teng, Yuzhe, . "Does Wealth Decrease Victimization in Property Crime?: Evidence from Thailand," Asian Journal of Applied Economics, Kasetsart University, Center for Applied Economics Research, vol. 32(1).
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