Commercial Security Field Test - Denver, Colorado

The project was characterized by the joint participation of business people and police in the development and implementation of strategies to encourage merchant compliance with survey recommendations. The Denver project was limited to a 2-year research effort involving 715 businesses. Program methodology included identification of commercial areas within Denver consisting of 20 or more small businesses surrounded by residential neighborhoods and having recognizable identities. Detailed crime and business data were collected in each area. The areas were tentatively pair-matched based on collected data, and each pair was randomly separated into a test and control component. Comprehensive crime prevention surveys and survey compliance activities were undertaken at each business in the test components. Project staff also participated in the formation of business associations in each test area. Commercial areas having the highest rate of compliance with survey recommendations had the lowest victimization rate. The project concluded that the methodology represented a useful and cost-effective approach to commercial crime prevention. Task definitions, maps of study areas, and other project materials are appended. (Author abstract modified)