NCJ Number
178550
Editor(s)
Barry Webb
Date Published
1998
Length
46 pages
Annotation
Research was conducted in England between June 1996 and May 1997 to explore computer theft from businesses and to suggest ways of preventing such theft.
Abstract
Costs of computer crime to businesses were significant, and the value of recorded losses increased over time as thieves concentrated their efforts on high value computer graphics machines. Repeat victimization appeared to be common; 25 percent of all computer crimes from business premises resulted from repeat crimes. Repeat victimization was likely to occur within 30 days of a previous computer theft. A large proportion of computer thefts occurred early in the evening between 7 and 9 p.m. Offenders rarely remained on the premises for more than a few minutes. External, physical prevention measures were not an effective deterrent to teams of professional computer thieves. Computer theft changed over time to meet the demands of the market. Thieves compiled "shopping lists" of the most popular hardware items and researched the market prior to committing a theft. Two main categories of offenders specializing in the theft of computers from businesses were professional teams and trade journals and magazines that advertised second-hand computers. Difficulties police departments are likely to face when investigating computer theft are examined, and examples of good practice in operations against computer thieves and fences are outlined. Supplemental information on computer crime and educational establishments and on police operations against computer crime is appended. 11 references, 7 tables, and 3 figures