NCJ Number
54906
Date Published
1979
Length
14 pages
Annotation
A PROGRESS REPORT ON THE GREENDALE, WIS., CRIME PREVENTION PROJECT IS PRESENTED. TARGET CRIMES WERE SHOPLIFTING AND FRAUD.
Abstract
THE PRIMARY GOAL OF THE GREENDALE PROJECT IS TO REDUCE THE INCIDENCE OF SHOPLIFTING BY AT LEAST 5 PERCENT DURING THE FIRST YEAR OF THE PROJECT. DATA DRAWN FROM THE INITIAL 5 MONTHS OF PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION REVEAL A 12-PERCENT DECLINE IN SHOPLIFTING OFFENSES, WHEN COMPARED TO A SIMILAR 1977 PERIOD. THE GREENDALE CRIME PREVENTION PROJECT BEGAN IN APRIL 1978. THE 1978 DATA INDICATE A SMALL INCREASE IN THE CLEARANCE RATE FOR SHOPLIFTING COMPARED TO 1977. HOWEVER, COMPARABLE DATA ON FRAUD REVEAL AN 83-PERCENT RISE IN INCIDENTS AND A 40-PERCENT DECLINE IN CLEARANCE RATE FROM 1977 TO 1978. IT IS DIFFICULT TO DETERMINE WHAT PROPORTION OF THESE 1977-1978 VARIATIONS IS DUE TO CHANGES IN CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR AND WHAT PROPORTION MERELY REFLECTS CHANGES IN REPORTING RATIOS. THE GREENDALE PROJECT EMPLOYS A WIDE VARIETY OF TECHNIQUES TO DETER TARGETED PROPERTY OFFENSES. THESE INCLUDE THE LOAN OF ENGRAVERS AND LIGHT TIMERS TO THE PUBLIC, CRIME PREVENTION SEMINARS TO MERCHANTS AND CIVIC GROUPS, RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL SECURITY SURVEYS, AND THE MONITORING OF VACANT PREMISES OF LOCAL RESIDENTS. IN ADDITION, THE COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS OF RELEVANT CRIME DATA AND EXTENSIVE TRAINING FOR CRIME PREVENTION OFFICERS ARE MAJOR OBJECTIVES OF THE GREENDALE PROJECT. TO SUMMARIZE, THE GREENDALE PROJECT HAS IDENTIFIED THE MOST PRESSING LOCAL CRIMINAL OFFENSES AND HAS DEVELOPED A MULTIFACETED PROGRAM OF ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO DETER SUCH OFFENSES. PRELIMINARY DATA ANALYSIS SUGGESTS THAT THE GREENDALE PROJECT HAS SUCCEEDED IN REDUCING THE LEVEL OF SHOPLIFTING WHILE INCIDENTS OF FRAUD HAVE RISEN. TABLES AND DATA COLLECTION INSTRUMENTS ARE PROVIDED. (MLC)