When home becomes a crime scene: Women victims of domestic burglary and their experiences of police interaction

While research covers police responses to sexual abuse and domestic violence, women’s property crime experiences remain underexplored. This study addresses this gap by exploring women’s subjective experiences of domestic burglary and subsequent interactions with law enforcement. Integrating feminist victimology and procedural justice, the research examines how violating the home—traditionally framed as a ‘gender-neutral’ offence—shapes trust in law enforcement and policing legitimacy. Findings reveal that burglary shatters ontological security, transforming the home into a ‘site of violation’. Furthermore, police interactions significantly shape emotional recovery and trust. Indifferent or technical responses often result in institutional misrecognition of women’s ‘safety work’. Ultimately, we advocate for trauma-informed, gender-sensitive policing that prioritizes validation and empathetic engagement to enhance police legitimacy and support recovery.