NCJ Number
34097
Date Published
1975
Length
113 pages
Annotation
THIS REPORT DETAILS THE RESULTS OF A STUDY WHICH DESIGNED ROBBERY DETERRENCE TECHNIQUES FOR IMPLEMENTATION IN SMALL CONVENIENCE STORES AND EVALUATED THE IMPACT OF THE MEASURES IN DECREASING ROBBERIES AND REDUCING LOSSES.
Abstract
THIS STUDY WAS UNIQUE IN SEVERAL WAYS: IT WAS AN EXAMPLE OF PRIVATE INITIATIVE IN COMBATING CRIME; IT RELIED HEAVILY ON THE INSIGHTS OF EX-ARMED ROBBERS AS STAFF MEMBERS; AND IT UTILIZED A CLASSICAL EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN IN A FIELD SETTING. A PRIVATE NON-PROFIT RESEARCH INSTITUTE (THE WESTERN BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES INSTITUTE) AND A LARGE PRIVATE COMPANY (SOUTHLAND CORPORATION) JOINED TOGETHER, AND WITH NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE FUNDING, PERFORMED THE STUDY. A TOTAL OF 120 TWENTY-FOUR HOUR CONVENIENCE STORIES IN FIVE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA COUNTIES WERE USED IN THE RESEARCH. TECHNIQUES, INCLUDING PHYSICAL CHANGES AND EMPLOYEE TRAINING, WERE IMPLEMENTED IN 60 EXPERIMENTAL STORES. THESE STORES WERE CLOSELY MATCHED, ON A STRATIFIED RANDOM BASIS, WITH 60 CONTROL STORES. THE ROBBERY EXPERIENCE OF BOTH GROUPS WAS FOLLOWED FOR 8 MONTHS. THE CONTROL STORES EXPERIENCED 59 PERCENT OF THE 97 ROBBERIES WHICH OCCURRED, WHEREAS THE EXPERIMENTAL STORES EXPERIENCED 41 PERCENT--A SIGNIFICANT DECREASE. STORES WITH FREQUENT PREVIOUS ROBBERIES AND RATED AS ATTRACTIVE TO ROBBERS BENEFITED MOST. A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF STORES HAD MOST OF THE ROBBERIES, AND THIS PATTERN WAS CONSISTENT FOR 1973, 1974 AND 1975. THE RESULTS SUPPORT THE CONCEPT THAT ROBBERS SELECT THEIR TARGETS AND THAT PHYSICAL AND BEHAVIORAL CHANGES AT THE SITE CAN SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE ROBBERIES. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)