NCJ Number
114131
Date Published
1987
Length
9 pages
Annotation
NRMA Insurance, Limited, is both a motorist association and an insurance company that offers a range of services and products to a broad spectrum of the community in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory.
Abstract
For several years, NRMA has been an active participant in community awareness programs, including crime prevention programs. In 1987, NRMA launched a major car theft awareness and prevention campaign. Rather than emphasizing the importance of locking vehicles to prevent theft, this campaign focused on disseminating information on risk associated with area of residence, parking accommodations, and type of vehicle. Components of the campaign included information packets available at all NRMA branches, television messages, newspaper advertisement, shopping center displays, theater advertisements, editorials and feature articles, and dissemination of the campaign theme on NRMA envelopes and road reports. In addition, NRMA held meetings with neighborhood watch groups, held a seminar, and published a research document, 'Car Theft in New South Wales.' Quantitative and qualitative research was conducted to test the likely effectiveness of the campaign, examine public attitudes toward car theft, and assess changes in attitudes and behaviors following the campaign. Preliminary results suggest that the campaign was effective in increasing public security awareness and may have contributed to a slight decline in car thefts. A question-and-answer discussion is included. 10 references.