Teens, Crime, and the Community
Session 22
Learning Objectives: In this session, teens focus on a variety of property crimes, learn what they are, and look . . .
Learning Objectives:
In this session, teens focus on a variety of property crimes, learn what they are, and look at their impact on individuals and communities. Teens see that young people are often victims as well as perpetrators of these crimes. They also learn how to help protect themselves and others from property crimes.
Tips to Enhance Session 22:
- Use NCPC’s home security checklist (PDF) during Step D to teach teens what to look for when securing their home. You can share motor-vehicle theft prevention tips (PDF) to help them learn to secure their cars.
- Share identity theft statistics (PDF) with your students. Let teens know that 34 percent of identity theft victims are age 29 and under. Teach teens ways to safeguard their identities and prevent identity theft (PDF) during Step D.
Web Resources: - Crime in the United States 2004, Property Crime: This FBI report of property crime in the United States offers statistics for the crimes of burglary, arson, motor vehicle theft, and larceny.
- National Association for Shoplifting Prevention: Provides statistics, research, and articles regarding the reasons people shoplift and methods to prevent shoplifting from occurring.
Community Resource People:
- Police officer: Can share statistics, consequences, and information regarding property crimes in your community.
Keep in mind that you should give the CRP the session materials at least one week before he or she will participate in your class.
Service-Learning Project Ideas:
- Short Project: Students can create posters for each type of property crime, and display them throughout the school building. The posters should include the name of the crime, the definition, a picture or illustration of the crime, and a way to prevent the crime.
- Medium-Length Project: Students can become engaged in cross-age teaching. They can use NCPC’s Seniors and Telemarketing Fraud 101 (PDF) booklet to teach seniors to avoid telephone scams.
- Long Project: Students can create an audio public service announcement concerning a property crime that is often committed in their community. Students can center the message around the costs and consequences of engaging in the specific crime, and end the announcement with a message of prevention.
