Assessing Property Crime Prevention and Reduction by Installing Closed-circuit Television Cameras

• In Event: Smart Policing Initiative: Place-Based Strategies to Reduce Crime

Abstract

Due to a precipitous increase in property crimes, the Anniston (AL) Police Department (APD) proposed reducing their Part 1 property crimes, particularly motor vehicle theft, theft from motor vehicles, and burglary, utilizing situational crime prevention to increase the risk to offenders. APD installed CCTV cameras in three crime hot spots. Our study uses a quasi-experimental design with before and after crime measures in treatment and control areas. We analyzed the data with a weighted displacement quotient and weighted displacement difference. None of the results were statistically significant; this may be due to low power, even when aggregating crime types. Although a statistically significant reduction in Part 1 property crimes was not observed, APD does have some positive reflections on the overall effort.

Authors

• Kay Lang, Jacksonville State University

• Chris Murtagh, Jacksonville State University

• Richards Davis, Jacksonville State University