NCJ Number
82369
Date Published
Unknown
Length
37 pages
Annotation
This manual is intended to serve as a speaker's guide for the crime prevention practitioner who is implementing programs to prevent agricultural crimes in Florida.
Abstract
Agricultural crime is the act of trespassing, theft, or destruction of any agricultural land, commodity, requisites to production, equipment, or nonresidential structure used in the production, harvesting, or sale of agricultural products. Florida's program to prevent agricultural crime is designed to publicize the extent of agricultural crimes, to inform the agricultural community about specific measures to use to reduce its vulnerability to crime, and to encourage the reporting of all crimes and suspicious activities. An overview of the agricultural crime problem in Florida notes that larceny and vandalism are the two crimes which are most reported. The perpetrators include professionals, organized crime rings, and amateurs. Rural crime has been increasing faster than urban crime in Florida. The six factors that contribute to agricultural crime include lack of proper identification and inventory, insufficient crime reporting, poor communication between law enforcement personnel and the agricultural industry, insufficient numbers of rural law enforcement personnel, the isolation of rural areas, and the demand for and costs of farm equipment and supplies. Guidelines are given for preventing thefts of livestock, commodities, and equipment. Advice also covers the use of Operation Identification, the Community Farm Watch program, and the prosecution of offenders. A list of Florida agencies which can provide further assistance and information and an appendix discussing branding methods, the definition of trespassing, and the use of private patrols are provided.