Crime Analysis with Crime Mapping

Chapter 10: Identifying Useful and Meaningful

Patterns

Prepared by: Dr. Rachel Boba (August 2008)

Pattern Responses by PoliceResponses in Area and during Times of Pattern

Directed patrol– Police patrol in the areas and times of the pattern– In cars, on bikes, or on foot– Objective is to arrest offenders in the act or deter offenders

(increasing perceived risk)

Field contacts– Contacting people in the pattern area– Objective to arrest offenders, deter offenders, and identify

investigative leads

Pattern Responses by PoliceResponses in Area and during Times of Pattern

Surveillance– Police watch and wait in a particular area at a particular time for

a crime to happen in order to make an arrest– Used in the most specific patterns – Personnel costs are very high

“Sting” or “bait” operations– People or property that have been targeted in a particular

pattern are put out as “bait” for offenders– Police observe the “bait” or have electronic monitoring that

allows them to arrest the offender or record offenders committing the crimes when the bait is taken

Pattern Responses by PoliceResponses during Business/Waking Hours

Clearing cases– Arrest for one crime is used to clear others in the pattern

Contacting potential victims directly– Crime prevention education targeted at specific victims, times,

and areas – In person, through a letter via postal mail, or through flyers left

at homes or businesses

Pattern Responses by PoliceResponses during Business/Waking Hours

Reverse 911– Technology that allows the police to call residents and

businesses in a pattern area and leave a recorded message about the crime pattern and crime prevention advice

Providing pattern information to the public– Encourage the public to provide additional information (“tips”) – Offenders might be deterred from continuing their offending– Encourage individuals to protect themselves– Media such as newspapers, radio, television, and the Internet

are used to provide this information

Persons Crime• Persons are the targets• Robbery, sexual assault, indecent exposure, public

sexual indecency, and kidnapping• Witness to the crime (the victim)• Details about modus operandi, suspect characteristics,

and the vehicles involved • Main goal to link common suspect• Typically result in series or sprees• Less commonly, hot spots, hot dots, or hot targets• Typical responses: Investigation of multiple crimes,

surveillance, directed patrol, informing general public

Robbery Patterns

• Key characteristics– Actions of the suspect– Type of victim or place– Suspect and vehicle description (caution)– Proximity for street robberies

Street Robbery Series,

Ft. Pierce, Florida

Street Robbery Series, Ft. Pierce, Florida

Field Trip

• http://www.myfoxchicago.com/dpp/news/crime/chicago-police-jody-weis-predictive-analytics-crime-prediction-20110207

Sex Crime Patterns

• Key characteristics– Stranger crime– Actions of the suspect– Type of victim– Suspect description (caution)– Evolution of behavior

Peeping Tom Series, Gilbert, Arizona

Peeping Tom Series, Gilbert, Arizona

• Property is the target• Theft from vehicle, auto theft, residential and commercial

burglary, criminal trespass, and criminal damage• Often no witnesses• Usually have little or no suspect information • Main goal to link by type of crime, type of

target/property, and proximity• Typically result in sprees, hot spots, hot targets, and hot

products• Typical responses: Informing potential victims, directed

patrol, reverse 911

Property Crime

Theft from Vehicle Patterns

• Key characteristics– Type of place where cars are located– Proximity– Time of occurrence– Unique MO or property taken

Theft from Vehicle Spree at

Apartments and Condos, Fort Pierce,

Florida

Theft from Vehicle Spree at Apartments and Condos, Fort Pierce, Florida

Theft From Vehicle Spree at Businesses, Port St. Lucie,

Florida

Theft from Vehicle Hot

Product, Danvers, MA

Auto Theft Patterns

• Key characteristics– Type of place where cars are located– Proximity– Time of occurrence– Type of car (in some cases)

Auto Theft Hot Target, Port St. Lucie, Florida

Residential Burglary Patterns

• Key characteristics– Type of residence– Proximity– Unique MO– Unique property taken

Residential Burglary Hot Spot, Tempe,

Arizona

Residential Burglary Hot Spot, Tempe, Arizona

Commercial Burglary Patterns

• Key characteristics– Type of business– Proximity – Unique MO– Unique property taken

Commercial Burglary Series,

Fort Pierce, Florida

Commercial Burglary Hot

Target, Fort Pierce,

Florida

Commercial Burglary Hot Target, Fort Pierce, Florida

Crime Analysis with Crime Mapping

Chapter 10: Identifying Useful and Meaningful

Patterns

Prepared by: Dr. Rachel Boba (August 2008)