TEMPORAL CHARACTERIZATION OF STREET ROBBERIES CONTRASTING PRE-PANDEMIC AND PANDEMIC CONTEXTS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31060/rbsp.2026.v20.n2.2081Keywords:
Time series, Street robberies, Municipalities of Minas Gerais (Brazil), COVID-19 pandemicAbstract
Understanding the dynamics of crime occurrences is crucial for more effective public security policies. This multidisciplinary study aimed at the temporal characterization of street robberies, under both pre-pandemic and pandemic contexts. Data from the Military Police of MG from 8 cities were consolidated into different time series: by hour, by day, every 10 days, and by month. Statistical techniques used were: spectral frequency analysis, autocorrelations, and decompositions. A 64% average decrease in this type of crime during the pandemic was observed. Evidence of a stationary regime in the pandemic series was found, implying a greater randomness in occurrences. Regardless of being pre or pandemic, and contrary to common sense, the only seasonality detected was between day/night, with the days of the week, the beginning or end of the month, or the months of the year being irrelevant. This study offers various insights for a better understanding of the temporal patterns of crimes.
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