Does Regulation of Built‐in Security Reduce Crime? Evidence from a Natural Experiment

Abstract

We provide evidence that large‐scale government intervention in the use of self‐protective measures lowers crime. Since 1999, all new‐built homes in the Netherlands have to have burglary‐proof windows and doors. We find the regulatory change to have reduced burglary in new‐built homes from 1.1 to 0.8% annually, a reduction of 26%. Even though the regulation of built‐in security does not target preventative measures at homes that are most at risk, the social benefits of the regulation are likely to exceed the social costs.