Decaying Interest in Burglary Prevention, Residence on a Block With an Active Block Club and Communication Linkage: A Routine Activities Approach

• NCJ Number: 153450
• Journal: Journal of Crime and Justice Volume: 17 Issue: 2 Dated: (1994) Pages: 23-48
• Author(s): J R Gillham; G A Barnett
• Date Published: 1994
• Length: 26 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Earlier version of paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Criminology, 1990, Baltimore, Maryland

Annotation

Because many burglary prevention programs find it difficult to keep participants actively involved, this study examined the problem using longitudinal, aggregated data from ratio-level multidimensional scaling.

Abstract

Interviews were conducted with residents of an area where a burglary prevention program was being promoted. These interviews were used to assemble a list of concepts that appeared important to program participants. Concepts included fear of burglary, the neighborhood, ways of discouraging burglary, dissatisfaction with the police, and problem solving. Burglary prevention activities involved home security measures, neighborhood watch, and property marking. Data analysis showed that declining participant involvement in burglary prevention increased with the proportion of residents living on a block where there was an active block club and with the extent of neighborhood discussion about what was going on in the community. The authors suggest that burglary prevention programs should encourage neighborhood residents to participate routinely in activities that stimulate continued interest in burglary prevention. 29 references, 9 endnotes, 2 tables, and 1 figure