NCJ Number
210350
Date Published
August 2004
Length
51 pages
Annotation
This final report describes a problem-oriented policing project undertaken by the Chula Vista Police Department (CVPD) on the problem of theft of and from autos in parking facilities.
Abstract
The project, supported by funding from the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), was designed to apply the information from selected Problem-Oriented Guides for Police (POP Guide) to actual crime and disorder problems, in this case, the problem of theft of and from autos in parking facilities. The project topic was selected through a survey of CVPD employees and a corresponding POP Guide was distributed to project members. Data on the problem of thefts of and from autos in parking facilities were gathered from 2000 and 2001 police crime records, which indicated that in 2001 there were 1,714 auto thefts and 1,656 vehicle burglaries in the city. Through a geographical analysis of the crime problem, it was discovered that 10 parking lots accounted for 22 percent of all vehicle crime in the city. Other data under analysis included vehicle thefts and break-ins by vehicle type and model, recovery rates, time parked before theft notification, revictimization, trend data for auto theft, monetary value of loss, and offender and manager interviews. The findings revealed that offenders made rational choices in target selection and in masking their crimes. The goal of the project next was to implement the response strategies outlined in the POP Guide, which suggested that parking lot interventions would be more effective than border point interventions. The project was considered a success in teaching problem-oriented policing strategies. Appendixes