What occurs when eliminating one type of crime inadvertently affects other types of crime?

The phenomenon where eliminating one type of crime inadvertently affects other types of crime is referred to as "displacement." This occurs when crime prevention efforts successfully reduce a specific type of crime, leading criminals to redirect their activities to areas or other crime types that are less monitored or more vulnerable.

For instance, if police increase patrols in a neighborhood to reduce burglaries, offenders may move to a different area with weaker law enforcement presence or shift to committing other forms of crime, such as shoplifting, in response. This means that while one type of crime may be reduced, it does not necessarily equate to an overall reduction in crime; rather, it suggests a shift in criminal behavior rather than a true decrease.

"Crime overlap" typically refers to the relationship between different crime types but does not specifically address the consequences of reduced crime. "Diffusion of benefit" describes a scenario where crime prevention tactics lead to a reduction in crime in areas that were not directly targeted, but this does not align with the context of inadvertently increasing other crime types. "Crime reduction" is a general term that implies a decrease in overall crime levels without acknowledging the complexities involved. Therefore, "displacement" is the most fitting term that captures the unintended consequences of crime intervention strategies