A quasi-experimental evaluation showed a 7.2% reduction in robberies and indicated that the localities served by the program contributed the most to this reduction, with a decrease of approximately 35.5%. This means that a 22%-23% drop in the robbery rate can be attributed to the territories where the program was implemented during the period studied. In absolute figures, this represents 873 thefts prevented, i.e., an average of 97 per month [1].
The researchers point out that these results present a conservative estimate of the program’s effects, since the treatment areas had a higher crime growth rate than the control areas prior to the experiment. In other words, this means that the program may have had an even greater effect, preventing more crime [1].
The results of a second study reinforced the effectiveness of the program to increase police presence in those regions, which in turn led to a reduction in the rate of petty theft. However, after a three-year follow-up period, the authors found that the intervention had lost its effect over time, especially in terms of reducing theft [2].