NCJ Number
11160
Date Published
1972
Length
39 pages
Annotation
PROGRAM ACTIVITIES, FINANCING, AND GENERAL IMPACT OF THE THEFT REDUCTION CAMPAIGN, AND RESULTS OF A PUBLIC OPINION SURVEY MEASURING ITS IMPACT.
Abstract
THE GREATER CLEVELAND AUTO THEFT PREVENTION PROGRAM, BASICALLY A PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN, IS JOINTLY SPONSORED BY MEMBERS OF THE AUTO INSURANCE INDUSTRY AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE COORDINATING COUNCIL. THE PROGRAMS DESCRIBED HERE ARE IN FOUR MAJOR AREAS - PUBLIC EDUCATION AND INFORMATION, YOUTH PROGRAMS, COORDINATION OF PREVENTION ACTIVITIES, AND RESEARCH AND EVALUATION. MASS MEDIA SUPPORT HAS BEEN GIVEN THE PROGRAM BY LOCAL NEWSPAPERS AND BY LOCAL 'AM' RADIO 'RADARS' PROGRAMS WHICH BROADCAST DESCRIPTIONS OF RECENTLY STOLEN CARS. PUBLIC AWARENESS EFFORTS ARE ALSO BEING ASSISTED BY VOLUNTEER HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. A MAJOR SIGN OF THE PROGRAM'S SUCCESS HAS BEEN THE SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION OF AUTO THEFT RATES. OTHER INDICATORS OF SUCCESS ARE A MARKED REDUCTION IN JUVENILE COURT REFERRALS AND LARGE SAVINGS TO THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY. A FOLLOW-UP OPINION STUDY, CONDUCTED AFTER THE FIRST YEAR OF OPERATION, INDICATED A MUCH HEIGHTENED PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THE DETERRENT VALUE OF LOCKING CARS.