NCJ Number
63165
Date Published
1979
Length
18 pages
Annotation
THIS REPORT PRESENTS SIGNIFICANT FINDINGS FROM EVALUATIONS OF TWO FEDERALLY FUNDED ANTIFENCING PROJECTS, ONE FROM THE SAN DIEGO POLICE DEPARTMENT AND ONE FROM THE SAN DIEGO SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
Abstract
PROBLEMS WHICH INHIBIT LAW ENFORCEMENT'S POTENTIAL TO CONFRONT BURGLARY AND FENCING ARE DISCUSSED, AND STRATEGIES WHICH SHIFT THE EMPHASIS 'BACK TO THE THIEF' ARE SUGGESTED. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT (1) FEDERAL FUNDS ALLOCATED FOR ANTIFENCING PROJECTS IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY FROM 1974 TO 1975 HAVE NOT REDUCED THE AVAILABLE MARKET FOR STOLEN PROPERTY AND HAVE NOT REDUCED THE INCIDENCE OF PROPERTY CRIMES, (2) THE POTENTIAL OF LAW ENFORCEMENT TO CLOSE DOWN OUTLETS FOR STOLEN PROPERTY IS REMOTE, SINCE ILLICIT RECEIVING IS PRACTICED BY MANY PERSONS IN THE GENERAL POPULATION AND THE CRIME IS OF LOW VISIBILITY, (3) THE GENERAL PUBLIC SEEMS UNAWARE OF THE CONNECTION BETWEEN BURGLARY AND STOLEN PROPERTY, AND (4) PATROL OFFICERS ARE NOT TRAINED ADEQUATELY IN EVIDENCE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE CRIME OF RECEIVING STOLEN PROPERTY OR IN THE TECHNIQUES OF PROPERTY IDENTIFICATION. RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDE THE SUGGESTION THAT INVESTIGATIVE DIVISIONS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES DEVELOP A TWO-FOLD APPROACH: (1) RETAIN THE TRADITIONAL APPROACH THAT FOCUSES ON THE BURGLARY VICTIM AND PROPERTY RECOVERY, AND (2) DEVELOP AN UNDERCOVER TACTICAL SQUAD WITHIN THE INVESTIGATIVE UNITS THAT USES TECHNIQUES SUCH AS SURVEILLANCE, STAKEOUTS, AND PLAYING THE ROLE OF THE CRIMINAL TO FOCUS ON THE THIEF (AS IN FAKE STOREFRONT OPERATIONS). ALSO, THE PATROL OFFICER SHOULD RECEIVE IMPROVED TRAINING ON GATHERING DATA, AND PUBLIC AWARENESS PROGRAMS SHOULD BE INITIATED TO INFORM THE PUBLIC OF THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN RECEIVING (FENCING) AND BURGLARY. TABLES AND REFERENCE ARE INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--PRG)