Study shows reduction in larcenies at O'Hare International Airport

Researchers in the School of Criminal Justice found that enhanced security measures put in place at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport to prevent future terrorist attacks after 9/11 also reduced the number of property crimes at the airport.

The study, which examined crime data from January 1999 to June 2005, showed the number of larcenies at O’Hare decreased after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. These rates have remained consistently lower than the pre-9/11 levels.

“The immediate benefits of airport security following 9/11 may not always be clear to flyers who may feel inconvenienced by them,” said Brian R. Johnson, professor of criminal justice. “This study suggests that security measures used at O’Hare have led to persistent reductions of property crime at the airport. Even though most travelers fortunately will never experience a terrorist attack personally, these enhanced security protections after 9/11 make O’Hare a safer place for anyone traveling through.”

The research was conducted by Brian R. Johnson, professor of criminal justice; Christine A. Yalda, assistant professor of criminal justice; and Christopher A. Kierkus, assistant professor of criminal justice.

For more information or a complete copy of the study, contact Brian Johnson at (616) 331-7130 or (616) 331-7142, or GVSU News and Information Services at (616) 331-2221.