NCJ Number
45978
Date Published
1977
Length
78 pages
Annotation
THE PROGRAM DESCRIBED IS INTENDED TO REDUCE BURGLARY THROUGH IDENTIFICATION OF PERSONAL PROPERTY BY USING ELECTRIC MARKING DEVICES, INVENTORIES, AND WARNING SYSTEMS; ITS OPERATION AND RESULTS ARE EXAMINED.
Abstract
OPERATION IDENTIFICATION (I.D.) WAS CONCEIVED TO REDUCE CRIME IN DENVER COUNTY, TO ESTABLISH A HIGHER RATE OF RECOVERY OF STOLEN GOODS, AND TO ESTABLISH THE I.D. CONCEPT IN VARIOUS LOCATIONS. THE STAFF OF THE PROGRAM CONSISTS OF ONE PROJECT DIRECTOR, ONE ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT, TWO TEAM LEADERS, TWO CLERK TYPISTS, AND NINE ENGRAVERS. TEAM LEADERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING ASSIGNMENTS, SOLICITING EFFORTS, CONDUCTING SURVEYS, CHECKING INVENTORIES AND MASTER COPIES, AND TROUBLESHOOTING. PROGRAM OBJECTIVES WERE TO REDUCE BURGLARIES IN I.D. LOCATIONS BY A RATE EQUAL TO 25 PERCENT OF THE CITY RATE, TO ENROLL AT LEAST 30,000 LOCATIONS AFTER APRIL 1975, AND TO DECREASE BY 20 PERCENT THE LOSS IN I.D. BURGLARIES AS OPPOSED TO NON-I.D. BURGLARIES. THESE OBJECTIVES WERE ONLY PARTIALLY MET. STATISTICS INDICATED THAT THE I.D. BURGLARY RATE WAS 89.5 PERCENT BELOW THE CRITERION SET FOR THIS OBJECTIVE. THE TOTAL LOCATION ENROLLMENT, AS OF JANUARY 1977, WAS 73.3 PERCENT OF THE DESIRED 30,000 LOCATIONS. THE I.D. VERSUS CITY BURGLARY TOTAL LOSS RATES ACCOUNTED FOR ONLY 3.5 PERCENT OF THE REQUIRED 20 PERCENT. THE STUDY CONCLUDES THAT THE USE OF OPERATION I.D. IN BUSINESSES REDUCED WHITE- AND BLUE-COLLAR THEFT, REDUCED CASH VALUE LOSS, AND PROVIDED ACCURATE INFORMATION ON STOLEN ITEMS AND THEIR OWNERS TO POLICE. ADVERTISING PROCEDURES, ACCOUNTING METHODS, PRODUCTION METHODS, CRIMINAL OUTLETS (FENCING), AND BUSINESS LOCATIONS ARE COVERED IN THE REPORT. BURGLARY ANALYSIS REPORTS ARE PROVIDED FROM JANUARY 1973 THROUGH DECEMBER 1976. CHARTS ON OPERATION TOTALS, PROGRAM STATISTICS, BURGLARY ANALYSIS, BURGLARY RATES, LOCATION COUNTS, AND INVENTORY COUNTS ARE PROVIDED. (AJJ)