SIGNS OF CRIME - A FIELD MANUAL FOR POLICE

• NCJ Number: 46435
• Author(s): D POWISSTEAD P J
• Editor(s): P J STEAD
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 255 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: John Jay College of Criminal Justice
• Corporate Author: John Jay Press
• Sale Source: John Jay Press
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

PRACTICAL 'STREET TIPS' ARE GIVEN TO HELP INEXPERIENCED POLICE OFFICERS DISTINGUISH SUSPICIOUS PERSONS FROM THE NORMAL PERSON ON THE STREET; PARTICULAR ATTENTION IS PAID TO SUSPICIOUS MOTOR VEHICLE ACTIVITY.

Abstract

AN ENGLISH POLICE OFFICER SHARES PRACTICAL WORKING ADVICE ON BEHAVIORAL PATTERNS, ATTITUDES, AND LIFE STYLES OF THIEVES AS WELL AS SUCCESSFUL TECHNIQUES OF STREET APPREHENSION. AS THE AUTOMOBILE DOMINATES CRIME AS WELL AS OTHER FACETS OF LIFE AND IT IS RARE FOR A CRIME OF REAL CONSEQUENCE TO BE COMMITTED WITHOUT SOME FORM OF MOTOR VEHICLE, SEVERAL CHAPTERS ARE DEVOTED TO CAR THEFT, CAR THEFT COMMITTED IN CONJUNCTION WITH ANOTHER CRIME, AND SPOTTING SUSPICIOUS VEHICLES. 'VEHICLE-ORIENTED' CRIMINALS ARE ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE WHEN THEY ARE RECONNOITERING A POSSIBLE CRIME IN THEIR OWN VEHICLE, WHEN THEY ARE GOING TO STEAL A VEHICLE, WHEN THEY ARE DRIVING THE STOLEN VEHICLE, WHEN THEY CONCEAL PROPERTY IN MAY COMMUNICATE ATTITUDE, SOCIAL RECOGNITION/STATUS, THEIR OWN USE, OR WHEN THEY ARE DRIVING WITHOUT A LICENSE. THE LAST POINT IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE THOSE WITH CRIMINAL RECORDS FREQUENTLY HAVE POOR DRIVING RECORDS AND OFTEN ARE CAUGHT WHEN PICKED UP IN A LICENSE CHECK. TIPS FOR APPROACHING A SUSPECTED CAR ARE GIVEN, AND SIGNS THAT A CRIME COULD BE IN PROGRESS ARE LISTED. THE PATROL OFFICER IS WARNED TO BE ESPECIALLY SUSPICIOUS OF THE PERSON WITH 'CAR TROUBLE' AS THIS IS A FREQUENT LOOKOUT RUSE. OTHER CHAPTERS DISCUSS SUSPICIOUS BEHAVIOR IN STORES, SECURING STOLEN PROPERTY AND PROVING IT WAS STOLEN, SECURING GOOD EVIDENCE WHEN TRACKING AND ARRESTING PROSTITUTES AND THEIR EMPLOYERS, AND CONDUCTING A SEARCH. A SPECIAL CHAPTER IS DEVOTED TO INVESTIGATING A BATTERED CHILD COMPLAINT. COURTROOM TESTIMONY IS CONSIDERED IN THE FINAL CHAPTER. APPENDIXES PROVIDE USEFUL INFORMATION ABOUT DISTANCES AT WHICH SIGHTING BY WITNESSES CAN BE RELIED UPON; CONVERSIONS AND APPROXIMATIONS FOR TIME, SPEED, AND DISTANCE; USEFUL MNEMONICS; FOOTPRINTS AND OTHER TRACES; TABLES FOR HUMAN ENDURANCE IN COLD WATER; A BALLISTICS TABLE; AND OTHER PRACTICAL DATA. A GLOSSARY OF WORDS AND PHRASES COMMONLY USED BY THIEVES AND OTHER CRIMINALS IN ENGLAND IS INCLUDED. (GLR)