Criminal incidences in relation to built environment in Arba Minch City, Southern Ethiopian

The global impact of urbanization has reached half the world’s population by influencing the physical structure and security of the cities. Castelli (J Ambient Intell Humaniz Comput 8:29?36, 2017) suggested criminality in urban areas is increasingly polymorphous, complex, and difficult to contain through social control. As reported by the Arba Minch City police office, policing is the major tool used to control and prevent crimes. However, the environment and economy are challenging to apply at each spot. Therefore, this study aimed at the relationship between criminal incidence and the built environment (land use, streets, and buildings). Focus group discussions and surveys (purposive interviews, observations, and questionnaires) were used as data collection tools. Computing the total population of 48,251 of the area, 381 sample size was calculated, and 125 questionnaires were organized. The three crime-dominant spots selected for this study are a municipal delineated crime hotspot, a cooperative commercial building, and a 40-m Principal Arterial Street. Findings showed that 27% (103) of pickpocketing, 41% (156) of mugging, and 19% (72) of snatch and run are the major types of crime experienced. Crime incidences are 32.02% (122) related to socioeconomic and demographic factors, 10.76% (41) to government irresponsibility, and 50.66% (193) to inappropriate built environment. Results showed that out of the inappropriate built invironment, 36% (137) crime incidences are correlated with the land-use incompatibility, 33% (125) with the unsuitable street design, and 31% (118) with the inconvenient building’s orientation. Though the municipal tried to tackle crime, the problems in the built environment aggravate it. Therefore, this study recommends built environment revitalization for crime prevention.