Explanation:
A victim of a crime may possibly experience many different kinds of effects:
Direct costs and inconvenience due to theft of or damage to property (including time off work).
The physical effects of injury through violent crime.
Guilt at having become the victim of crime and feelings one could have prevented it (whether or not this was at all possible).
Psychological effects such as anger, depression or fear, which, in serious cases, can cause sleeplessness, flashbacks to the offence or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Feelings of anxiety through shock that such a thing has happened and worries about revictimisation, sometimes leading to feelings of loss of trust in one’s community and in society.
Limiting one’s social life or work life, or changing one’s lifestyle, by not going to places like where the crime occurred or being afraid to go out altogether, because of unease or fears of revictimisation.
Taking extra crime preventive measures.
Dealing with insurance claims and, for those for whom the crime is reported to the police, the police and other parts of the criminal justice system.
