As mentioned multiple times before, GIS is a great tool for visualizing various spatial patterns. Crime is undeniably a geographic phenomenon (although some might disagree) and should also therefore be analyzed in terms of its spatial distribution.

In this lecture we looked at three different theories of environmental criminology: routine activity, rational choice and criminal pattern. In the routine a crime occurs as a combination of an offender willing to commit a crime, a suitable place for that crime and the presence of a target in that place at the right time. It assumes that people follow routines and the transition between different places as a routine creates a crime opportunity. The rational choice theory assumes that offenders make a rational choice of committing a crime when the benefits outweigh the consequences and probability of being convicted. Lastly, the criminal pattern theory assumes that offenders are more likely to commit a crime in areas and situations that are familiar to them.

The main goals of environmental criminology is being able to predict and explain the spatial patterns and occurrences of crimes and offenders. One way of addressing these goals is geographic profiling which is a tool that will help determine the likely location of criminals based on the locations of crimes. Serial criminals can be classified into 2 spatial groups: marauders (which commits crimes in their own neighbourhoods or in proximity) and commuters (which travel to other neighbourhoods to commit crimes).