Opportunity to cut crime

Sunday, Aug. 16, 2009 | 2:07 a.m.

There are proven steps that owners and employees of small businesses, including convenience stores, can take to cut down on their chances of being robbed, and instructors involved in a Metro Police pilot program are offering classes on them.

Metro Police is offering the classes in partnership with the University of North Carolina, where researchers have developed a program called Crime Free Business.

The program has been successful for the business owners and employees who have volunteered to take the classes, follow the instructors’ recommendations and periodically meet with police.

But what frustrates the university is that where the classes have been offered nationwide, attendance has been much lower than desired. If more business people do not attend, overall crime rates will not be affected that much.

After the university sought applications, Metro Police was one of three departments in the nation chosen to participate in further studies of Crime Free Business. In addition to putting on the classes, Metro Police, aided by a $24,000 federal grant, will help find solutions to the attendance problem.

Metro is concentrating its efforts in the west-central part of the Las Vegas Valley, where robberies of businesses occur almost three times a week. Its classes will be offered for the next five years. Participants will be taught about small, inexpensive changes they can make, such as locking back doors, that would better protect against robberies.

Although the classes should be straightforward, finding solutions to the attendance problem will be challenging. At Metro’s first meeting recently, Las Vegas Sun reporter Abigail Goldman observed only about 20 businesspeople. Metro’s methods for increasing attendance, if successful, will be incorporated into the Crime Free Business program across the country.

We understand it is difficult to work classes into a busy schedule. But given the high probability of positive results, business owners should make a strong effort to participate. Less crime benefits not only businesses but also the entire community.