世論 What Japan Thinks

A recent survey from goo Research, conducted in conjuction with the All About Japan web site, looked at awareness of crime prevention in those living alone.

Demographics

Between the 21st and 23rd of January 2008 1,017 members of the goo Research online monitor panel aged between 20 and 34, single and living alone, and regular full-time employees completed a private internet-based questionnaire. 52.2% of the sample was female, 28.0% was aged between 20 and 24, 39.4% between 25 and 29, and 32.6% between 30 and 34.

I’m very suprised by the results of Q6 as shown in the pie chart above. Barely one in twenty are on speaking terms with the neighbours, which is much lower than I might have expected. I’d love to hear the reasons why.

Just to explain the anti thumb-turn covers, these try to prevent one kind of housebreaking attack where someone sticks a wire through your letterbox and turns the lock from the inside.

Research results

Q1: How long have you been living by yourself? (Sample size=1,017)

Less than a year	6.9%
One to three years	17.0%
Three to five years	17.6%
Five to seven years	19.8%
Seven to ten years	20.7%
Ten to fifteen years	15.2%
More than fifteen years	2.9%

Q2: How did you first come to live by yourself? (Sample size=1,017)

For school, university, etc	40.1%
For work	31.8%
For independence from parents	16.6%
Transferred at work	4.3%
Other	7.2%

Q3: What are the good things about living alone? (Sample size=1,017, multiple answer)

Can use my time however I want	79.5%
Understand the good things about the friends, family I left behind	61.7%
Doing my own cleaning, washing	56.0%
Doing my own cooking	50.3%
Can manage my money	47.1%
Strengthens me mentally	44.0%
Other	2.4%
Nothing in particular	3.2%

Q4: Why did you choose the current place where you live? (Sample size=1,017, multiple answer)

Handy for commuting to work	57.5%
Rent is cheap	46.8%
Close to station	39.3%
Like the interior	21.8%
Good security	13.8%
Handy for parents’, friends’ home	10.5%
Other	17.3%
Nothing in particular	3.5%

Q5: How far are you from your family home? (Sample size=1,017)

Under 30 minutes	12.7%
30 minutes to 1 hour	13.4%
One to three hours	33.2%
Three to five hours	23.4%
More than five hours	17.3%

Q6: How well do you know your neighbours? (Sample size=1,017)

Share activities with them	2.6%
Often talk with them	3.2%
Just exchange greetings	47.3%
Don’t even know their faces	47.0%

Q7: Have you ever been the victim of crime while living alone? (Sample size=1,017)

Yes (to SQ)	22.5%
Not me, but friends, etc have	27.3%
Neither me nor friends	50.2%

Q7SQ: What kind of crimes have you been the victim of while living alone? (Sample size=229, multiple answer)

Stalking, being followed	27.9%
Housebreaking	18.3%
Pickpocketing	14.4%
Abuse from neighbours	14.4%
Illegal use of credit card, bank card	7.9%
Arson, firestarting	7.9%
Bag snatching	7.4%s
Other	25.8%

The following data is read directly off a graph, so there may be one or two percentage points of inaccuracy in the data.

Q8: Which of the following activities do you think is effective against crime, and which do you actually do? (Sample size=1,017, multiple answer)

	Think effective	Actually do
Lock the door even when just popping out	76%	73%
Check who the visitor is before opening the door	70%	54%
Lock the windows even when just popping out	64%	54%
Use a door chain	62%	43%
Have autolock doors	53%	27%
Use a difficult-to-pick lock	52%	11%
If possible walk on brightly-lit streets	51%	31%
Shred bills, envelopes, etc	49%	38%
Don’t use full name on nameplate, letterbox	47%	49%
Use net curtains, etc, to stop people looking in from outside	42%	34%
Use a locking mailbox	37%	27%
Don’t dry clothes outside that give away my age, sex	33%	22%
Apply anti-crime film to window, attach alarm to window	32%	3%
When walking alone, carry bag on inside side	30%	17%
Use anti “thumb turn” cover on lock	29%	6%
Regularly change PIN on cash cards, etc	27%	7%
Set up dummy locks, dummy security camera	25%	2%
Carry personal alarm, other anti-crime items	16%	3%
When walking alone, don’t listen to iPod, etc	14%	8%
Other	1%	2%
Nothing in particular	4%	7%

The one about not drying clothes outside is to not only avoid attracting attention to oneself by having skimpy undies on one’s balcony, but it also prevents one rather common crime that falls into the Other category of Q7SQ, panty snatching.

Q9: How much would be enough to spend on crime prevention items? (Sample size=1,017)

Under 5,000 yen	37.7%
5,000 to 9,999 yen	34.4%
10,000 to 19,999 yen	17.4%
20,000 to 29,999 yen	6.2%
30,000 to 49,999 yen	3.0%
50,000 to 99,999 yen	0.9%
100,000 yen or more	0.5%