The National Multi-Peurpose Survey of Homes reveals that close to two-thirds of the population does not go out at night due to a fear of becoming victims of a crime. The Enhogar Survey, as it is known, covered 2022 and shows that public safety is, for the first time, at the top of the list of worries for most people in the Dominican Republic.
Using the typical survey model of “A lot,” “Some,” “A little” and “None” to distinguish the public’s feelings regarding different topics, the survey discovered that nearly 30% of the population feels a lot of worry regarding criminal activity in their barrios or communities. Only 23% said they felt no worry about criminal activity. Over two-thirds of the women interviewed said that they would not go out at night because of their fears. And 58.9% of the men agreed the same.
Personal behaviors reflect these fears. Nearly half of all the persons who took the survey revealed that they no longer carry cash, and close to 40% said they no longer wear any jewelry.
Almost a quarter of those interviewed said they no longer use public transportation.
These numbers were reinforced by the fact that 45% said that they had been the object of some sort of criminal activity.
As a result, a lot of homes have been reinforced against criminals, using everything from tin cans and little bells to electronic surveillance equipment to warn residents.
Vehicles are also a target for criminals, and fully 40% of those interviewed reported having their cars or trucks vandalized. Motorcycle theft affected half of those polled.
Perhaps one of the strangest aspects of the entire survey was that two-thirds of those interviewed said they never reported the criminal activity they experienced. This was especially true in cases of sexual assaults or other sexual criminal activity.
The cost of living was another critical factor for the interviewers. It seems that next to criminal activity, the cost of living is a worry for well over half of those interviewed.
The Enhogar survey was massive and interviewed over 30,000 people.
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Diario Libre
Diario Libre
18 December 2023