NCJ Number
59014
Date Published
1979
Length
77 pages
Annotation
THE POLICE IN SEATTLE, WASH., HAVE TAKEN A NEW APPROACH TO ROBBERY PREVENTION IN HIGH RISK BUSINESSES BY USING CONCEALED CAMERAS THAT ARE ACTIVATED WHEN A 'TRIP' BILL IS REMOVED FROM THE CASH REGISTER.
Abstract
THE CAMERAS TAKE CLEAR PICTURES OF THE ROBBERY-IN-PROGRESS, MAKING SUSPECT IDENTIFICATION POSSIBLE AND GAINING ADMISSIBLE EVIDENCE FOR TRIAL. THE CONCEPT WAS IMPLEMENTED ACCORDING TO A RIGOROUS EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN; IMPLEMENTATION, ORGANIZATION, SITE SELECTION, EQUIPMENT OPERATIONS, POLICE PROCEDURES, RECORDKEEPING, AND PROJECT COSTS ARE DOCUMENTED IN THIS REPORT AS WELL AS THE EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN AND PROJECT FINDINGS. BUSINESSES WITH THE HIDDEN CAMERAS WERE COMPARED TO A CONTROL GROUP WITHOUT CAMERAS AT 150 SITES (75 EXPERIMENTAL, 75 CONTROL). ONE HUNDRED OFFENSES WERE REPORTED FROM MID-JUNE 1976 TO APRIL 27, 1977, INCLUDING 38 ROBBERIES AT THE EXPERIMENTAL SITES AND 56 ROBBERIES AT CONTROL SITES. EVALUATION OF THE PROJECT DEMONSTRATES THAT 66 PERCENT OF EXPERIMENTAL GROUP CASES WERE CLEARED EITHER BY ARREST OR EXCEPTION, COMPARED TO 55 PERCENT OF CONTROL GROUP CASES, WITH A HIGH DEGREE OF CONTROL CASES BEING CLEARED USING PICTURES TAKEN AT EXPERIMENTAL SITES. A DECLINE IN COMMERCIAL ROBBERY FOLLOWING THE PROJECT ONSET WAS SIGNIFICANTLY CORRELATED WITH THE NUMBER OF ROBBERS ARRESTED AND CONVICTED DURING THE PROJECT PERIOD. PROJECT OBJECTIVES WERE ACHIEVED WITHOUT INCREASING RISK TO VICTIMS, POLICE, OR OFFENDERS, AND CONVICTIONS FOR HIDDEN CAMERA CASES WERE ACHIEVED AT A LOWER COST THAN WERE CONVICTIONS FOR CONTROL CASES. FURTHERMORE, THE HIDDEN CAMERAS PROJECT IS RELATIVELY INEXPENSIVE AND EASY TO OPERATE. HIDDEN CAMERA PROJECTS IN SIX OTHER CITIES ARE DISCUSSED, AS WELL AS HOW TO GO ABOUT DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING SIMILAR PROJECTS. APPENDIXES CONTAIN SAMPLE DAILY MONITORING FORMS USED BY CAMERA OFFICERS IN KANSAS CITY, MO., SEATTLE'S DATA COLLECTION FORMS, AND A COST ANALYSIS OF THE SEATTLE PROJECT.