Why does street crime have such a hold on the public imagination? Is it because crimes against a person or personal possessions are more important than hidden crimes?
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- Thu Jan 13 2005

... 1. Why does street crime have such a hold on the public imagination? Is it because crimes against a person or personal possessions are more important than hidden crimes? It is not that 'hidden crimes' are less important than 'street crime' but rather a belief that crimes committed 'on the street' are usually against an innocent individual, primarily and even unknowingly becoming a victim of crime. This makes it personal ("it could have been me") and may even be seen to cause psychological damage to the victim ("why did it happen to me"). Street crime is generally stereotyped as an act taken on by drug abusers, ethnic minorities or the poor who would rather commit criminal offences as a provision of income than seek paid employment. However, whether this is because of historical attitudes that have long argued this, or the provision of various discourses of information society is provided with by














