Burglars’ Potential Rewards: A Qualitative Study in a Korean Context
Yongtae Chun, Ju-Lak Lee

Abstract
Rational choice theory explains that potential offenders will consider the relative rewards and risks before breaking the law. With respect to the two categories of factor, reward and risk, the latter has been the topic of countless studies and controversial discussions in the field of criminology. However, the studies on the reward have rarely been conducted. Therefore, in this study, the potential rewards that could foster burglary were assessed for a more accurate understanding of the crime; and for a qualitative analysis, fifty-two burglary suspects were selected for interviews. The findings revealed that financial gain was the primary motivation for most burglars. However, some subjects claimed that the prospect of psychological rewards led them to commit their crime, and to some of these subjects, such rewards were more coveted than were the monetary acquisition.

Full Text: PDF