For the purposes of this study, a collective response to crime is defined as an activity in which unrelated persons act jointly to do something about crime. Survey data were derived from three pooled city samples to examine some ideas derived from field observations in the neighborhoods of those same cities. The data confirm relatively few differences between participants and nonparticipants other than those attributed to involvement in neighborhood groups. Involvement in a neighborhood group is a relatively uncommon activity, but among those who are involved, there is a high likelihood that they will participate in a collective reponse to crime. This is true in large part because two-thirds of all neighborhood groups engaged in collective responses to crime of some type. When the specific correlates of participation are examined, the absence of differences in perceptions of crime or of police and neighborhood groups' efficacy in fighting crime are noted. There were few characteristics of respondents which helped explain why they participate in collective responses to crime; however, a common theme running through correlates was the importance of individual stability and integration in the neighborhoods. Those with long-term commitments to the neighborhood and who are involved with their neighbors are more likely to participate. The pattern of direct correlates suggests that the participation in collective responses to crime may be effective in increasing mutual surveillance activity and requests for police assistance, while being ineffective in influencing individual precautionary or avoidance behaviors. Nine notes and 16 references are provided, along with tabular and graphic data. (Author summary modified)