NCJ Number
101347
Date Published
1983
Length
91 pages
Annotation
This evaluation of a Neighborhood Watch Program in a selected residential area of Thunder Bay, Ontario (Canada), found that it reduced residents' burglary victimizations.
Abstract
A site consisting of 200 households with a high rate of reported crime was selected for the experiment along with a matched site 10 miles away. Block units of 20 households were established, and monthly block meetings held to discuss security programs, crime prevention methods, neighborhood responsibilities, and crime analysis. The crime prevention officer provided technical assistance. Program evaluation began in May 1983, 1 year after program implementation. Victimization and security data were obtained from 162 experimental households during program implementation, and again from 135 households during evaluation. Comparative data were obtained from 236 control households. When analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences to produce bivariate and multivariate contingency tables, the data showed that the program substantially reduced residential property crime, particularly household yard property theft, a major problem in the past. This reduction was directly related to the level of household and yard physical security, which in turn correlated with residents' applications of tested crime prevention measures. Tabular data and appended supplementary material.