Unraveling the complex nexus: How residential land with diverse functions shapes the spatial dynamics of urban burglary

An existing disparity between the actual and planned land use function for a given parcel highlights a knowledge gap in how mixed-use residential parcels influence burglary spatial patterns. To bridge this gap, our study leverages land use data and Points of Interest (POIs) to categorize residential land into distinct types, and further explore the influence of mixed-use residential land and housing types on the spatial distribution of burglary rates. Key findings reveal that: 1) Residential land can be segmented into three distinct categories: pure residential, residential-office, and residential-commercial. 2) While a significant relationship is not observed between residential-office land and burglary, both pure residential and residential-commercial land exhibit a notable increase in burglary occurrences, with the latter exerting the most significant impact. 3) Notably, the commercial environment significantly heightens the attractiveness of high-end commercial housing for burglary, whereas for affordable housing, the commercial environment enhances its deterrent effect against burglary. This dichotomy is attributed to the spatial service scope and target clientele of commercial facilities. The findings furnish a scientific rationale for burglary prevention and control strategies across diverse community types, ultimately contributing to a safer urban environment. Furthermore, the implications of this research are applicable to cities globally grappling with the challenge of managing mixed-use residential land safety in the context of urbanization. •Previous research has overlooked the influence of mixed-use residential land on the spatial distribution of burglary.•Supported by land use data and Points of Interest (POIs), this study categorizes residential land to explore how the interaction between mixed-use residential land and housing types affects the spatial patterns of burglary.•Residential land can be segmented into three distinct categories: pure residential, residential-office, and residential-commercial.•Pure residential and residential-commercial land exhibit a notable increase in burglary occurrences, with the latter exerting the most significant impact.•The commercial environment significantly increases the attractiveness of high-end commercial housing for burglary, whereas it enhances the deterrent effect of affordable housing against burglary. This dichotomy is attributed to the spatial service scope of commercial facilities.