NCJ Number
25997
Date Published
1975
Length
126 pages
Annotation
REPORT ON A TELEPHONE SURVEY OF 50 POLICE DEPARTMENTS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES AND SITE VISITS TO 12 DEPARTMENTS WITH ONGOING PROJECTS.
Abstract
THE MAJOR FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THIS STUDY COVER PROBLEMS THAT COMMUNITIES FACE IN PREVENTING BURGLARY AND FACTORS THAT THEY CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IN DEVELOPING PREVENTION PROGRAMS. THE BURGLARY PREVENTION ACTIVITIES USED IN THE CITIES SURVEYED ARE IDENTIFIED. THEY INCLUDE CRIME-PATTERN AND VULNERABILITY ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION; COMMUNITY EDUCATION; PREMISE SECURITY SURVEYS; PROPERTY MARKING PROGRAMS; PATROL AND SURVEILLANCE ACTIVITIES; AND ANTI-FENCING OPERATIONS. THE BOOK ALSO FOCUSES ON THE ACTIVITIES' OPERATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS SO AS TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE ON WHAT TO IMPLEMENT AND HOW TO DO SO. IN GENERAL, RESEARCHERS FOUND LITTLE SOLID EVIDENCE TO DEMONSTRATE THE ACTUAL EFFECTIVENESS OF THE BURGLARY PREVENTION ACTIVITIES COMMONLY EMPLOYED. IN ADDITION, EVALUATION COMPONENTS WERE TYPICALLY WEAK AND OFTEN NON-EXISTENT. A MAJOR RECOMMENDATION OF THE REPORT IS THE INCLUSION OF PLANNING AND EVALUATION COMPONENTS AS INTEGRAL PARTS OF LOCAL BURGLARY PREVENTION PROGRAMS. SPECIFIC MEASURES OF IMPORTANCE FOR EVALUATING THE IMPACT OF VARIOUS PROGRAM COMPONENTS ARE SUGGESTED. THE REPORT CONCLUDES THAT THE KEY TO A SUCCESSFUL BURGLARY PREVENTION EFFORT LIES IN SELECTING THE RIGHT COMBINATION OF TECHNIQUES AND THE APPROPRIATE OVERALL APPROACH TO IMPLEMENTING A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM. BASED ON THE ANALYSIS OF PROGRAMS IN A NUMBER OF POLICE DEPARTMENTS, THE GRANTEE HAS OUTLINED OPTIONS AVAILABLE AND PROVIDED GUIDANCE ON SELECTING AND COORDINATING ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS. THE APPENDIX CONTAINS A DISCUSSION OF STATEWIDE POLICE CRIME PREVENTION TRAINING PROGRAMS, AN ARTICLE ON THE MINNESOTA CRIME WATCH PROGRAM, COPIES OF THE SECURITY ORDINANCES OF OAKLAND AND LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, AND A MODEL FOR ESTIMATING AGGREGATE DETERRENCE AND APPREHENSION EFFECTS. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS ALSO PROVIDED. (SNI ABSTRACT)