NCJ Number
46891
Date Published
1974
Length
0 pages
Annotation
THE STORY OF A VICTIM OF COMMERCIAL CRIME IS PRESENTED IN THIS FILM, WHICH IS DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE THE USE OF CRIME PREVENTION MEASURES.
Abstract
THE STORY OF CHARLIE, WHO IS CONSTANTLY BEING ROBBED, IS RELATED IN THIS FILM. CHARLIE HAS BEEN ROBBED SEVERAL TIMES RECENTLY, BUT HE SHOWS NO CONCERN, SIMPLY SAYING THAT HIS INSURANCE WILL PAY FOR IT. ONE DAY, AS CHARLIE GOT IN HIS CAR TO GO OFF TO WORK, HE WAS ROBBED. HE WAS HELD UP AGAIN AS HE LEFT HIS CAR TO GO INTO HIS STORE. SEVERAL TIMES DURING THAT WORKING DAY HIS STORE WAS ROBBED AS WELL. THE NARRATOR POINTS OUT THAT CHARLIE IS VERY PREDICTABLE ABOUT EVERYTHING HE DOES -- HE OPENS THE STORE, GOES TO THE BANK, AND CLOSES THE STORE AT EXACTLY THE SAME TIME EACH DAY. CHARLIE IS AN EXCELLENT TARGET FOR A ROBBERY. HIS STORE HAS CROWDED AISLES, POOR VISIBILITY TO THE OUTSIDE, AND BAD LIGHTING AT NIGHT, AND CHARLIE REFUSES TO TAKE ANY CRIME PREVENTION MEASURES. HE HAS EVEN REFUSED TO GO TO THE POLICE STATION TO LOOK AT MUG SHOTS IN ORDER TO IDENTIFY ONE OF THE ROBBERS. CHARLIE MERELY SAYS THAT THE INSURANCE WILL PAY FOR IT. THAT NIGHT, WHEN CHARLIE CALLS HIS INSURANCE BROKER TO REPORT A CLAIM, HE IS INFORMED THAT HIS INSURANCE HAS BEEN CANCELLED BECAUSE HE IS A BAD RISK. THIS MOVIE IS DESIGNED TO STIMULATE AN INTEREST IN CRIME PREVENTION MEASURES USED BY COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENTS.