THE INCREASE IN PETTY CRIMES IN THE NETHERLANDS IN RECENT YEARS, ALONG WITH DECREASING CLEARANCE RATES CAN LEAD TO A GROWING LACK OF CONFIDENCE IN THE ABILITY OF THE POLICE TO DEAL WITH CRIME, A SHIFT IN MORAL STANDARDS REGARDING PROPERTY POSSESSION, AND THE INCLINATION OF CITIZENS TO TAKE LAW ENFORCEMENT INTO THEIR OWN HANDS. STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMITTING PROPERTY CRIMES HAVE AN IMPORTANT BEARING ON THE RATE OF THEFT AND VANDALISM. HOWEVER, THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY CAN GREATLY REDUCE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR PROPERTY CRIMES TO BE COMMITTED BY (1) SIGNALING THE APPROACH TO THE TARGET, WHICH INVOLVES THE USE OF ALARM AND SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS AND SEE-THROUGH AND SMELLING APPARATUS, FREQUENTLY USED TO PREVENT HIJACKING; (2) PREVENTING ACCESS TO THE TARGET, WHICH INVOLVES THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY TO PREVENT OR CONTROL ACCESS TO AREAS AND BUILDINGS (LOCKS AND IDENTIFICATION SYSTEMS); (3) IMPEDIMENT OF APPROPRIATION OF VALUABLE OBJECTS BY MEANS OF SPECIAL PROCEDURES, WHICH INCLUDE DEADBOLT LOCKS FOR RESIDENCES, STEERING-COLUMN LOCKS FOR CARS, ELECTRIC CIRCUIT BREAKERS FOR CARS, THE USE OF INVISIBLE MARKS ON PRICE TAGS TO PREVENT SHOPLIFTING, AND THE USE OF VANDAL-PROOF MATERIALS; AND (4) THE USE OF ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN TO PROVIDE FOR DEFENSIBLE SPACE THAT WOULD DISCOURAGE CRIME. THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THESE MEASURES, DEMONSTRATED BY A NUMBER OF STUDIES, SHOWED BE MORE WIDELY RECOGNIZED. A GRAPH AND TABULAR DATA ARE INCLUDED. (RCB)