Merton's Law

Merton's Law states that the number of burglars in a community is directly related to the amount of potential rewards available from theft and inversely related to the risks involved in committing the crime. In other words, if the potential payoff (like valuable goods or money) is high and the chance of getting caught is low, more people are likely to attempt burglary. Conversely, if risks are high or potential rewards are low, fewer individuals will engage in such activities. This principle helps explain how crime rates can fluctuate based on economic and law enforcement factors.