NCJ Number
73234
Journal
Schriftenreihe der Polizei-Fuehrungsakademie Issue: 3 Dated: (1980) Pages: 267-282
Date Published
1980
Length
16 pages
Annotation
The extent of vandalism and related property damage in Cologne, West Germany, during 1978 is reported, and police measures to reduce such crimes are described.
Abstract
These crimes constituted 6.97 percent of the city's reported crimes and were found to be increasing from year to year. At the same time, only 10.65 percent of the cases could be solved, and this figure had not changed significantly over the years. As a result, the Cologne police department has attempted to develop new crime prevention strategies. At the heart of these strategies is the collection and analysis of crime data. The results are published internally at the middle and end of each month. Information is included on offense types, the times and places they were committed, how they were committed, and on suspect characteristics. Furthermore, observations, analytic findings, and suggestions for dealing with specific problems are presented. Crime prevention measures centered on increased police visibility. High crime areas were patrolled by officers both on foot and in vehicles, and whenever possible, police dogs were included on the patrols. Patrol van operators were instructed to make more use of their spot lights, and special vans with television equipment were posted at the gathering places often visited by offenders. No vandalism, or only a few instances were reported in the areas where these special measures were utilized and the preventive effects even spread to neighboring areas of the city. Police-community relations in the affected areas were observed to improve as officers sought and partook in conversations with local residents. Agencies which have been hard hit by vandalism, such as the post office, measures, and some have begun information campaigns aimed at informing citizens on the types and extent of damages they have suffered. Members of the community are encouraged, sometimes through the offering of rewards, to report suspicious activities around agency facilities. Data tables and a reference list are included. -- in German.