| Sumario: | This paper examines the structures of economic sectors and the question as to what makes them particularly susceptible to be harmed by crime and/or what creates opportunities for criminal misuse. Initially, we highlight certain bottlenecks which the two sectors are currently faced with in the Belgian context. It is argued that some of these bottlenecks might lead to criminal exploitation. Drawing upon interviews with players in the two sectors, law enforcement agents, criminals that “know” the sectors and police case files, we discuss the vulnerabilities identified by the different sources. It is argued that the perspectives with regard to vulnerability to crime differ to a certain extent due to a diversity in core business amongst the diverse players. Particular attention is paid to the organisation and the processes within the sectors. It is argued that some of the recognized vulnerabilities are not exclusive to the two sectors under research but are rooted in the general structure of economic regulations. Another focus lies on the specific control mechanisms within the sectors exploring how far they contribute to vulnerability. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that prevention measures aiming to address known vulnerabilities might become the genesis of other more uncontrollable vulnerabilities. It is argued that depending on the criminal activity the physical, social and economic environment of the sector influences vulnerability. The paper concludes with a proposition highlighting crucial considerations for assessing vulnerability to crime
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