COMMUNITY CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAM - SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - EXEMPLARY PROJECT

• NCJ Number: 42383
• Author(s): P CIREL; P EVANS; D MCGILLIS; D WHITCOMB
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 174 pages
• Contract Number(s): J-LEAA-030-76
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice; US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Corporate Author: Abt Associates, Inc; Seattle Law and Justice Planning Office
• Sale Source: Superintendent of Documents, GPO; National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Program/Project Description
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: EXEMPLARY PROJECT

Annotation

RESIDENTIAL SECURITY INSPECTION SERVICES, SERVICES FOR MARKING PERSONAL PROPERTY, BLOCK WATCHES, AND INFORMATION MATERIALS COMPOSE THIS BURGLARY PREVENTION PROGRAM. A THOROUGH MEASURE OF RESULTS HAS PROVEN PROGRAM SUCCESS.

Abstract

IN 1972, THE LAW AND JUSTICE PLANNING OFFICE OF SEATTLE SURVEYED ITS CITIZENS AND FOUND THEM MORE CONCERNED ABOUT BURGLARY THAN ANY OTHER CRIME. AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME, STUDIES OF THE INCIDENCE AND PATTERNS OF BURGLARY IN THE CITY FOUND THAT IN OVER ONE-THIRD OF REPORTED BURGLARIES THIEVES ENTERED THROUGH UNLOCKED DOORS AND WINDOWS; MOST VICTIMS HAD NOT IDENTIFIED THEIR PROPERTY BY ANY MEANS THAT WOULD DISCOURAGE FENCING THE PROPERTY OR ASSIST IN ITS RECOVERY; MOST BURGLARIES OCCURRED DURING WAKING HOURS; AND TRADITIONAL POLICE PATROL COULD NOT POSSIBLY PROVIDE THE EXTENT OF PREVENTIVE PRESENCE NECESSARY TO CURTAIL THE BURGLARY RATE. THE COMMUNITY CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAM DESIGNED FOUR TACTICS TO REDUCE THESE FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO BURGLARIES AND APPLIED THEM TO TWO TARGET AREAS, COMPRISING APPROXIMATLEY 27 PERCENT OF THE CITY'S POPULATION. USING A HOME SECURITY CHECKLIST, A SERVICE TECHNICIAN ACCOMPANIES OCCUPANTS THROUGH THEIR HOME AND ADVISES THEM ABOUT MAKING IT MORE SECURE. ASSISTANCE AND EQUIPMENT FOR MARKING PERSONAL PROPERTY ARE PROVIDED EACH HOME, AND A BLOCK WATCH PROVIDES FOR WILLING RESIDENTS TO EXCHANGE INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR SCHEDULES AND HABITS, WATCH EACH OTHER'S HOUSES, AND REPORT SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITIES TO EACH OTHER AND THE POLICE. INFORMATION MATERIALS ABOUT BURGLARY AND ITS PREVENTION ARE REGULARLY SUPPLIED TO PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS. POST-PROJECT DATA REVEAL A 48 TO 61 PERCENT REDUCTION IN BURGLARIES OF HOUSEHOLDS USING THE SERVICES. TO AID IN REPLICATION OF THE PROGRAM, A DETAILED APPROACH FOR ESTABLISHING AND EVALUATING THE PROGRAM IS INCLUDED.