NCJ Number
97947
Date Published
1985
Length
17 pages
Annotation
This report addresses apartment burglary and three possible solutions: community crime prevention, electronic security, and physical security.
Abstract
In the United States, burglary occurs 3 to 6 million times a year; one-tenth of all property crimes are apartment< burglaries, which account for losses of at least $100 million annually. A review of historical methods of burglary prevention finds that current methods are identical to those used in ancient times; only the technologies have changed. Analysis suggests that the risk of burglary can be reduced 50 that the risk of burglary can be reduced 50 percent simply by locking all doors and windows. Community crime prevention covers passive, active, and advocacy levels of activity; security surveys, property-marking programs, and neighborhood watch programs are most important to apartment dwellers. Finally, electronic security, including triggering mechanisms and signaling systems, is about 100 years old but is troubled by two problems; false alarms and lack of standardization in such areas as equipment capability. About 98 percent of all burglar alarms reported to police in the United States are false alarms. Good security uses a combination of all three types of security measures. Six references are included.