Crime communication at information meetings

In a quasi-experiment the effects of information meetings concerning residential burglary were investigated. The objective was to increase knowledge of burglary in order (1) to bring the fear of burglary more into line with the risks involved and (2) to encourage adequate preventive behaviour. The information led to an increase in knowledge, outcome expectation and self-efficacy expectation and an intention to implement preventive behaviour. Risk assessment and fear of burglary were not affected. Our conclusion was that information meetings are a useful strategy to increase knowledge of crime and to encourage preventive behaviour.