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)
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