NCJ Number
115878
Journal
Journal of Security Administration Volume: 11 Issue: 2 Dated: (December 1988) Pages: 60-69
Date Published
1988
Length
10 pages
Annotation
In 1987, the National Roads and Motorists' Association (NRMA), a motorists association and insurance company with very high market penetration, mounted a mass media crime prevention campaign designed to reduce car theft in New South Wales, Australia.
Abstract
The campaign focused on increasing general awareness of the general risk of auto theft and on high-risk areas for auto theft. The campaign included media releases, dissemination of a research report and a seminar, banners, television and newspaper advertisements, editorials and feature articles, and distribution of information packets on the costs of car thefts and their prevention. In addition, the NRMA sponsored local neighborhood watch groups. The overall strategy was to focus on car theft at the local level and to maintain a controlled continuity of the campaign rather than a shorter, more intensive coverage. Evaluation of the campaign included pretrial testing of campaign materials, evaluation of benchmark attitudes, and tracking of changes in car security attitudes and behaviors. Preliminary results suggest that while the public was aware of the car theft problem, they were unaware of its costs and did not perceive it as a great enough personal threat to change their behaviors. Following the campaign there were indications for improved attitudes toward the effectiveness of individual and community crime prevention strategies, increased use of anti-theft devices, and improvement in individual car security. A theft-risk appraisal questionnaire is appended. 9 references.