NCJ Number
64358
Date Published
1979
Length
16 pages
Annotation
THIS BRITISH STUDY EXAMINES THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN TO ENCOURAGE THE PUBLIC TO LOCK UNATTENDED MOTOR VEHICLES AND THUS REDUCE CAR CRIME.
Abstract
THE CAMPAIGN WAS CONDUCTED IN PLYMOUTH, ENGLAND, (POPULATION 300,000) OVER A 5-WEEK PERIOD. PLYMOUTH'S LEVEL OF AUTOCRIME WAS SEEN AS A PRESSING PROBLEM, AND PLYMOUTH POSSESSED A RADIO STATION AND TWO DAILY AND TWO WEEKLY NEWSPAPERS--ALL ENTHUSIASTIC TO ASSIST POLICE EFFORTS. MUCH OF THE CAMPAIGN PUBLICITY WAS CONCENTRATED WITHIN THE HIGH-RISK AREAS FOR AUTOCRIME OFFENSES. BESIDES PRESENTING PRESS AND RADIO PUBLICITY, THE PROJECT DISTRIBUTED 5,000 HANDBILLS AND 140 POSTERS. TWO MEASURES WERE USED TO MONITOR THE IMPACT OF THE CAMPAIGN: LEVELS OF CAR SECURITY AND AUTOCRIME STATISTICS. RESULTS SHOW THAT THE CAMPAIGN DID NOT SUCCEED IN PERSUADING A GREATER PROPORTION OF DRIVERS TO LOCK THEIR CARS, NOR DID IT EFFECT A REDUCTION IN AUTOCRIME. PART OF THE REASON FOR PUBLIC INTRANSIGENCE, POLICE HYPOTHESIZED, WAS THAT MANY DRIVERS DO NOT PERCEIVE THE RISK AND THE CONSEQUENCES OF HAVING A CAR STOLEN AS SERIOUS. SINCE AUTOCRIMES ARE COMMITTED BY DETERMINED OFFENDERS, A CAMPAIGN REDUCING THE NUMBER OF UNLOCKED CARS MIGHT JUST LEAD OFFENDERS TO CHANGE THEIR MODES OF OPERATION OR DIRECT THEIR ATTENTION TO THOSE VEHICLES LEFT UNLOCKED. REFERENCES ARE CITED. (MJW)