NCJ Number
57325
Journal
Security World Volume: 16 Issue: 4 Dated: (APRIL 1979) Pages: 18-21,94,96-97
Date Published
1979
Length
7 pages
Annotation
CRIME PREVENTION MEASURES TAKEN TO MAKE HOUSTON, TEX., A SAFER CITY PERTAIN TO DOWNTOWN SECURITY, A FALSE ALARM CAMPAIGN, INDUSTRIAL SECURITY, AND CULTURAL AND EDUCATIONAL FACILITY PROTECTION.
Abstract
ARSON AND ARMED ROBBERY ARE CRIMES OF PARTICULAR CONCERN IN HOUSTON AND HAVE PARALLELED THE CITY'S GROWTH. POLICE, FIRE, AND BUSINESS OFFICIALS HAVE DEVISED NUMEROUS ANTICRIME PROGRAMS TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM OF RAPID GROWTH. THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HAS ESTABLISHED A CRIME CONTROL COMMITTEE THAT INCLUDES A SECURITY SUBCOMMITTEE FOR THE DOWNTOWN AREA. THE GREATER HOUSTON ALARM ASSOCIATION MAINTAINS AN OPEN DIALOGUE ON A REGULAR BASIS WITH THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT TO MONITOR FALSE ALARM PROBLEMS, EQUIPMENT, AND INSTALLATION METHODS. THE TEXAS CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY MANAGES A CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAM TO REDUCE HEAVY EQUIPMENT THEFT. AN ARSON TASK FORCE HAS BEEN SET UP, AND THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS ASSEMBLED A SPECIAL CARGO THEFT SQUAD WITH FIVE DETECTIVES UNDER THE BURGLARY AND THEFT DIVISION WHO HAVE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEFTS FROM ALL TRANSPORTATION MODES. OIL AND GAS INDUSTRIES HAVE RESPONDED TO THE CRIME PROBLEM, AS WELL AS OTHER COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISES. PRINTED MATERIALS AND MASS MEDIA ARE USED TO DISSEMINATE CRIME PREVENTION INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC. THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS IS EQUIPPED WITH AN AUDIO-VIDEO SYSTEM FOR DAYTIME SURVEILLANCE PLUS 10 TO 15 GUARDS THAT PATROL GIVEN AREAS AT ALL TIMES. MARKING OF EQUIPMENT AND AN INTRUSION ALARM SYSTEM IN KEY BUILDINGS ARE PROCEDURES ADOPTED AT TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY. POLICE OFFICERS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON MUST BE CERTIFIED TEXAS PEACE OFFICERS, AND THE SCHOOL HAS A BURGLAR ALARM SYSTEM WITH BELLS AND FLASHING LIGHTS. OTHER SCHOOLS (PRIMARY AND SECONDARY INSTITUTIONS AND JUNIOR COLLEGES) ARE PATROLLED BY GUARDS AND POLICE HELICOPTERS AT NIGHT. (DEP)