BURGLARY COORDINATOR PROGRAM IS WORKING IN A RURAL COMMUNITY

• NCJ Number: 60752
• Journal: CRIME PREVENTION REVIEW Volume: 6 Issue: 4 Dated: (JULY 1979) Pages: 18-22
• Author(s): P SUMMERS
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 4 pages
• Corporate Author: California Office of the Attorney General Crime Prevention Unit
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A PROGRAM IN ONE RURAL COUNTY TO REDUCE BURGLARY IS ASSESSED, AND THE OPERATION OF THE BURGLARY COORDINATOR PROGRAM IS DETAILED.

Abstract

THE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE RECEIVED A 3-YEAR GRANT IN 1976 TO ANALYZE THE CRIME OF BURGLARY. A MEETING WITH LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, INCLUDING THE 11 POLICE DEPARTMENTS IN THE COUNTY AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, WAS HELD TO DISCUSS THE BURGLARY PROBLEM. IT WAS DECIDED THAT ALL POSSIBLE INFORMATION REGARDING REPORTED BURGLARIES WOULD BE FORWARDED TO A BURGLARY COORDINATOR. THIS INFORMATION WOULD BE CARDED AND A COUNTYWIDE MODUS OPERANDI (MO) FILE WOULD BE USED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. THE CARD FILING SYSTEM SELECTED FOR THE BURGLARY COORDINATOR PROGRAM WAS THE INSTANT DATA SYSTEM (IDS). IN THIS SYSTEM, EACH CARD IS NUMBERED AROUND THE OUTER EDGE. CARDS ARE NOTCHED TO CORRESPOND TO CERTAIN CODES. A COLOR CODE IS EMPLOYED TO DISTINGUISH BURGLARY CASES BY THE YEAR IN WHICH THEY OCCURRED. ADDITIONALLY, BURGLARY CASE CARDS ARE CODED SO THEY WILL CORRESPOND TO MO CARD CODING. IDS BURGLARY CASE CARDS CONTAIN THE NAME OF THE INVESTIGATING DEPARTMENT, THE BURGLARY CASE NUMBER, THE METHOD OF ENTRY INTO PREMISES, THE TYPE OF PROPERTY TAKEN, EVIDENCE FOUND AT THE SCENE, THE TYPE OF PREMISE, THE GEOGRAPHICAL AREA, AND THE TIME OF OCCURRENCE (WHEN KNOWN). THE FIRST YEAR OF THE BURGLARY COORDINATOR PROGRAM RESULTED IN THE RECOVERY OF 31 PERCENT OF REPORTED STOLEN PROPERTY. THERE WAS A 54-PERCENT RECOVERY RATE THE SECOND YEAR. SECOND-YEAR DATA ALSO REVEALED THAT BURGLARY DECREASED BY 6 PERCENT, WHILE THERE WAS A 30.5-PERCENT INCREASE IN ADULT BURGLARY ARRESTS AND A 10-PERCENT INCREASE IN JUVENILE ARRESTS. WITH THE AID OF THE MO FILE, SEVEN BURGLARIES WERE CLEARED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY, FOUR OF WHICH WERE SAFE BURGLARIES. FROM JULY 1977 THROUGH JULY 1978, THE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE OBTAINED CONVICTIONS IN ALL BURGLARY CASES.