NCJ Number
85678
Date Published
Unknown
Length
48 pages
Annotation
This study reports on a burglary prevention program in the Hague (Netherlands) and discusses direct and indirect short-term effects of program activities.
Abstract
The burglary control team of two detectives and eight constables of the Hague Municipal Police which operated in Moerwijk directed its efforts mainly on patrol on foot and by bicycle, the provision of information on crime prevention, and prompt action on burglary reports in the target district. The direct and indirect short-term effects of these activities on the residents of Moerwijk were determined through surveys conducted in Moerwijk and in the control district of Rustenburg/Oostbroek before and after the experimental program. Relevant police data were also analyzed. Direct effects of the program were an increased willingness to report crime in the neighborhood, an increased willingness by residents to take precautions against burglary and other property crimes, increased citizen confidence in the police, and a drop in the percentage of burglaries solved, which was probably due to increased crime reporting. A significant indirect effect of the program was a stabilization or decline in burglary victimization rates in Moerwijk and Rustenburg/Oostbroek, while elsewhere in The Hague and the rest of the Netherlands sharp rises occurred. There was no indication that the fear of crime among residents subsided significantly. The results of this project are compared with similar projects in the Netherlands, and tabular data are provided. (Author summary modified)