Cause & Effect — Policing and crime outcomes.\nI. Police authorities recently increased evening-hour vigil in the locality.\nII. There has been a considerable reduction in petty crimes in the locality.

Introduction / Context:
Law-enforcement inputs (visibility, patrols) often deter opportunistic offenses. The pair seeks recognition of the causal chain from policing intensity to crime incidence.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• I: Increased evening vigilance by police.
• II: Noticeable drop in petty crime rates.
• Deterrence and rapid response constrain petty offenders.

Concept / Approach:
Increased patrols create perceived risk and reduce criminal opportunity windows, yielding immediate effects on petty crimes.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
Crime drops coincident with patrol surges are common in hotspot policing studies.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
B reverses direction; C/D deny linkage.

Common Pitfalls:
Ignoring time ordering: “recently increased vigil” then “has been reduction.”

Final Answer:
if statement I is the cause and statement II is its effect.