NCJ Number
216732
Journal
American Journal of Public Health Volume: 96 Issue: 10 Dated: October 2006 Pages: 1867-1872
Date Published
October 2006
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This study compared the incidence and risk factors for employee and customer injury during violent crimes committed against retail and service businesses.
Abstract
The findings strongly suggest that retail and service businesses should design security programs that protect customers as well as employees. Results revealed that customers were 31 percent more likely than employees to be injured during crimes committed against retail and service businesses. Customers were more likely to be injured than employees during crimes committed in bars, restaurants, convenience stores, and motels. On the other hand, employees were more likely than customers to be injured during crimes committed in grocery and liquor stores. The use of alcohol by the perpetrator and resistance to the crime raised the likelihood of injury for both customers and employees. Customers were at greater risk for injury during crimes that occurred outside, such as in parking lots, and during crimes committed at night. Data were drawn from the Workplace Violence Prevention Program (WVPP) in Los Angeles, CA, which includes 827 business participants, and from an electronic crime report database maintained by the Los Angeles Police Department. A total of 2,029 reports of violent crimes were matched by address to the 827 business addresses for the period January 1996 through June 2001.Violent crimes were defined as completed or attempted homicide, assault, battery, robbery, and rape. Customers and employees were considered injured if the police report mentioned physical injury. SUDAAN software was used to calculate risk ratios. Tables, references