NCJ Number
66861
Date Published
1980
Length
291 pages
Annotation
FOR POLICE DETECTIVES, PATROL OFFICERS, AND RELATED PROFESSIONALS, THIS VOLUME PRESENTS A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF BURGLARY AND THEFT BASED ON THE PSYCHIATRIC EVALUATIONS FOR THE COURTS OF OVER 100 OFFENDERS.
Abstract
THESE EVALUATIONS ARE AUGMENTED BY INFORMAL INTERVIEWS WITH CRIMINALS, FENCES, AND VICTIMS; ON-THE-STREET EXPERIENCES WITH BURGLARY DETECTIVES; AND THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF EXPERTS IN THE AREAS OF EVIDENCE AND INVESTIGATION. A SECTION ON BURGLARY PROVIDES DETAILS ON BURGLARS AND THEIR SKILLS; RESIDENTIAL BURGLARIES OF HOUSES AND APARTMENTS; NONRESIDENTIAL BURGLARIES OF HOTELS, CHURCHES, ART GALLERIES, MUSEUMS, GRAVES, AND BANKS; AND SAFE BURGLARY. DISCUSSIONS RELATE TO TARGET SELECTION, EQUIPMENT, METHODS OF ENTRY, SELECTION OF ITEMS, BURGLARY MISTAKES, AND DISPOSAL OF THE GOODS. ALSO EXPLORED ARE MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT, THEFT BY EMPLOYEES, THEFT FROM BUILDINGS, COMPUTER THEFT, SHOPLIFTING, POCKET PICKING AND PURSE SNATCHING, BICYCLE THEFT, AND THEFT FROM VENDING MACHINES AND PARKING METERS. FENCING ACTIVITIES ARE DETAILED, AND FENCES ARE CLASSIFIED INTO SUCH CATEGORIES AS FULLY COVERED BUSINESS GENERALISTS AND SPECIALISTS, PARTLY COVERED BUSINESS FENCES, NONCOVERED FENCES, AND INDIVIDUAL FENCES. ANOTHER SECTION ANALYZES CRIME IN RELATION TO SEX, AGE, AND RACE AND EXPLAINS MOTIVES, THE VICTIM'S ROLE, AND PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS IN RELATION TO CRIME. ATTENTION IS GIVEN TO VICTIM-OFFENDER RELATIONSHIPS, REACTIONS TO BURGLARY AND THEFT, RESISTANCE, AND VICTIM-POLICE RELATIONSHIPS. MOTIVES FOR FALSE REPORTS OF BURGLARY AND THEFT ARE EXAMINED. ALL ASPECTS OF BURGLARY INVESTIGATION, AS WELL AS SPECIFIC TYPES OF THEFT, ARE OUTLINED, INCLUDING RESPONSES TO THE CRIME IN PROGRESS, THE CRIME SCENE SEARCH, THE AREA SEARCH, INTERVIEWS, AND OTHER COMPONENTS OF THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION. FINALLY, THE ELEMENTS OF SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE COLLECTION ARE DESCRIBED FOR THE NONSPECIALIST, ALONG WITH CRIMINAL INTERROGATION PROCEDURES, METHODS OF PREVENTING THE CRIME, AND PUNISHING THE CRIMINAL. REFERENCES AND AN INDEX ARE INCLUDED. (WJR)