In a famous experiment by Stanford University psychologist Philip Zimbardo, a car was parked on a street in Palo Alto, where it sat untouched for a week.
At the same time, Zimbardo had an identical car parked in a roughly comparable neighborhood in the Bronx, only in this case the license plates were removed and the hood was propped open.
Within one day, it was stripped. Then, in a final twist, Zimbardo smashed one of the Palo Alto car’s windows with a sledgehammer. That car, too, was destroyed within just a few hours.
Zimbardo’s point was that disorder invites even more disorder-that a small deviation from the norm can set into motion a cascade of vandalism and criminality. The broken window was the tipping point.) – The Tipping Point, Malcolm Gladwell (National Bestseller)
CRIME IS THE INEVITABLE RESULT OF DISORDER.
If a window is broken and left unrepaired, people driving or walking by will conclude that no one cares and no one is in charge. Soon, more windows will be broken, and it will signal that anything goes.
Muggers and robbers believe that members of a rundown neighborhood are less likely to call the police to identify a potential mugger or to interfere if a mugging actually takes place. In an area where potential victims don’t care about the appearance of the neighborhood a robber feels that they have less chance of being caught or even identified.
Broken or boarded up windows, graffiti, high grass, street lights busted, neighborhood children tearing up things may have at first appeared to be a “trivial” problem. However they were found to be the tipping points. These are all invitations to more serious crimes. It is extremely important to quickly attack even small signs of disorder.
You must take control of your neighborhood and hold everyone accountable, if you are serious about crime.
The Housing Division enforces the City of Tulsa’s Title 55 ordinance. This is considered the Property Maintenance ordinance that hold owners of all existing structures responsible for the minimum property maintenance standards for TITLE 55
A Top Property Maintenance issue is Broken windows –
ES-110.2 Penalty. Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any provision of this code shall be guilty of an offense and, upon conviction thereof, shall be subject to a fine of not more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), excluding costs, or by imprisonment in the City jail for a period not to exceed ninety (90) days, or both, at the discretion of the court. Each day that a violation continues, after due notices have been served in accordance with the terms and provisions herein, shall be deemed a separate offense.
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Sometimes the most modest of changes can bring about enormous effects.
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The late Political scientist James Q. Wilson and co-author George L. Kelling advised that communities must address minor crimes and their effects, such as broken windows, to prevent larger problems from developing.
They stated that the crime of vandalism wasn’t as damaging as the message the broken window sent about the community, leading to more serious crimes there.
“… one unrepaired broken window is a signal that no one cares, and so breaking more windows costs nothing,” they wrote.
… Just as physicians now recognize the importance of fostering health rather than simply treating illness, so the police – and the rest of us – ought to recognize the importance of maintaining, intact, communities without broken windows.”
Responding to minor offenses brings dramatic improvements in perception of public safety.
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Are there any broken or boarded up windows in your neighborhood? This should be a top priority if you wish to lower the criminal activity. (Glass broken on a side door to the garage? If you must “board it” up then paint it to match the door exactly so it blends and looks like it is part of the door.)
Get Serious About Crime to Keep Your Neighborhood Safe:
- Use security lights. Security lights don’t stay on all the time….A motion from someone walking up to your bedroom window kicks it on, illuminating their actions and making them think that they have been spotted.
- Streetlight out? Contact PSO
- Make sure yards are mowed. Tulsa has ordinances regarding this. Click to report the problem High Grass/Weed Violations.
- Has a car parked on the street not been moved in some time? Request vehicle be tagged for towing.
- Tulsa city ordinance absolutely prohibits the parking of vehicles in yards and requires vehicles in driveways to be fully operable. Vehicles should be reported using the form found here: Illegally Parked or Inoperable Vehicle on Private Property (yard, driveway, etc or call the Mayor’s Action Center at 596-2100.
- Dumping Violations If you have observed a site where someone has dumped their trash, please use this form to let us know about the problem and where to find it.
- Advertising Sign Violations Tulsa has ordinances (here) limiting the way signs can be used including height, width, placement and installation methods. Yes, this includes signs attached to city poles. If you believe a sign has been installed that violates these ordinances or seems to be unsafe, please use this form to identify it for us.
- Graffiti
- Does the house or building next to yours look neglected? Click here: Property Maintenance
- Traffic Signals/Sign request new street signs by clicking here.
- Pot Holes can make an area look neglected. Report them as soon as you see one.
- Other Problems
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alongthebeatenroad 