The seasonality of violent crime: the case of robbery and homicide in Israel

The relationship between season of the year and criminal behavior is a classical topic in criminological research. However, much of the research in this field is atheoretical and the findings are inconsistent and contradictory. The present study investigated the seasonality of homicide and robbery in Israel from 1977 to 1985. The authors' analysis was informed by the routine activity approach, which views crime as a function of three main elements: motivated offenders, suitable targets, and absence of guardians. Based on this approach and on the differences between homicide and robbery (with regard to motivation, victim-offender relationships, and planning), the authors hypothesized that robbery would show a seasonal trend and would peak during the winter (November through March) due to the increase in the cost of living and the facilitating environmental conditions during these months. In contrast, they expected homicide to be most prevalent in August (when social interaction is at its highest level), an...