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Effect of a Crime Prevention Survey on Citizens' Behavior

NCJ Number
94734
Journal
Journal of Security Administration Volume: 7 Issue: 1 Dated: (June 1984) Pages: 31-38
Author(s)
D B Kennedy; R J Homant; R Fleming
Date Published
1984
Length
8 pages
Annotation
A sample of burglary victims who subsequently completed a police crime prevention survey (CPS) is compared to similar victims who did not have such a survey and to a control group of non-victims.
Abstract
The CPS is designed to sensitize the resident to the ease with which a burglar can gain entry and to suggest precautions to deter potential burglars. The study sample consisted of a randomly selected group of 67 non-victims, 36 households which had received CPS, and 32 which had not. Results support the hypothesis that residents who completed the CPS would report a greater use of security measures. Of the six security measures strongly or moderately recommended, all show greater use by the CPS group. Eighty-five percent of the CPS group reported that they had begun taking some of the security measures in response to a recent crime, compared to only 42 percent of the non-CPS group. On a five-point scale, the CPS group averaged a 4.56 in response to the following statement: 'There is a fairly high fear of property crime in your neighborhood.' The non-CPS group averaged a 4.00 on this question. The CPS is concluded to be a worthwhile investment for both police officials and citizens.