NCJ Number
134917
Journal
Journal of Security Administration Volume: 14 Issue: 2 Dated: (December 1991) Pages: 23-54
Date Published
1991
Length
32 pages
Annotation
A survey of crime prevention measures implemented by 213 business proprietors in St. Paul and Minneapolis was used to describe reactions to crime that may result from the high-risk category of commercial victimization including burglary, robbery, and vandalism. The data is used to test hypotheses developed from the victimization and social control models of reactions to crime.
Abstract
The findings showed that the two overwhelming reactions of business proprietors to crime were implementation of management procedures and exhibition of surveillance and protection devices. Most proprietors reported multiple protective measures. Participation in collective crime prevention programs was not a common response. Type of business was significantly related to whether a proprietor adopted a certain type of crime response. Businesses located in the commercial district were more likely to adopt management procedures, exhibit surveillance and protective devices, and participate in collective responses. In support of the victimization model, fear of crime was a distinguishing factor among all the reactions. Proprietors who participated in collective responses had more cooperative interactions with other businesses in the commercial district than those who did not participate; this result supported the hypothesis of informal social control. Neighborhood characteristics only affected avoidance reactions and participation in collective responses. 6 tables, 1 appendix, and 25 references