Impacts of Social Isolation Resulting from the Covid-19 Pandemic on Urban Crime in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais - Brazil

Abstract

The objective of this study is to analyze the impacts of social distancing measures on the behavior of criminality in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais - Brazil, especially the one related to property crimes (theft, robbery and extortion). The criminal statistics for the period from March 18 to July 25, 2020 (the period of social distancing decreed by the Municipality of Belo Horizonte) were compared with the 2019 records. The flexibilization of social distancing measures period was also scrutinized, 25th of July to 24th of September. As a parameter of community mobility, data provided by Google® were used. The results indicate a lower number of crimes, with an average reduction of 34% between 2019 and 2020, 36% during the social distancing period; and 25% during the flexibilization of restrictive measures. The temporal distribution of events follows the pattern of the period without social distancing, both by day of the week and by time period. There was also a reduction in community mobility in places of commerce (retail), leisure and parks, concomitant with the reduction in crime. The spatial distribution of events maintains the same spatial pattern of the period without social distancing, being influenced by crime attractors, according to land use and occupation. There was a correlation between the concentration of certain urban equipment and the concentration of crimes in both periods. The influence of social mobility on places of commerce/leisure and parks corroborates Routine Activities and Crime Pattern theories, as well as the distribution of facilities that make up the urban landscape.

Keywords Social isolation; COVID-19; Crime; Property crimes; Community mobility