NCJ Number
174276
Journal
Gazette Volume: 60 Issue: 2 Dated: February 1998 Pages: 2-12
Date Published
1998
Length
11 pages
Annotation
Recognizing a proactive approach is needed to combat the problem of residential break and enter incidents, the Ottawa- Carlton Regional Police Service attempted to improve its response to approximately 4,100 residential break and enter incidents that resulted in over $4.3 million worth of stolen property in 1987.
Abstract
Community surveys conducted by the police service revealed that between 83 percent and 92 percent of local residents were concerned about breaking and entering. The police service realized that new technology could help solve the residential break and enter problem and initiated research into various database and graphic display techniques. Cooperating with other public research organizations, the police service considered the feasibility of using a knowledge-based system to help police investigate residential break-and-enter incidents and to illustrate the potential of such technology in support of other police investigations. The following system functionality objectives were established: provide support for gathering and recording case data, generate suspect characteristics from case parameters, and give investigators and analysts easy access to relevant case information. The research resulted in a system referred to as InvestigAide Residential B&E. This system was based on advanced computer technology and met functionality objectives. A software package designed to analyze commercial break and enter incidents was also developed and was to have been tested in the summer of 1998. Benefits of the InvestigAide Residential B&E system are described in terms of residential break-and-enter incidents and other potential applications.