Chapter 14: The Investigation of Burglary, Vehicle Theft, Arson, and Other Property Crimes

The Investigation of Burglary

Varieties and Characteristics of Burglaries
  • FBI Definition: "The unlawful entry into a building or other structure with the intent to commit a felony or a theft"; use of force to gain entry is not required.
  • Frequency: Relatively frequent and serious property crime.
  • Categorization: Distinction between residential and nonresidential burglaries.
  • Impact on Victims: Burglary has significant emotional and financial impacts on victims.
Investigative Considerations with Burglary
  • Prevention: Generally easier than solving the crime.
  • Investigation Challenges:
    • Issues with investigative processes due to lack of immediate evidence.
    • Importance of forensic evidence collection.
  • Eyewitnesses and Informants: Gather testimony from eyewitnesses and informants to aid investigations.
  • Perpetrator’s Modus Operandi (MO): Understand the unique methods employed by the perpetrator.
  • Case Study Evidence: Consider what types of evidence were available in specific cases.
Burglar Alarms and Initial Police Response
  • Role of Alarm Systems: Burglar alarms seldom play a significant role in effective investigations.
  • Building Clearance: Importance of clearing the building whether the burglary is in progress or has already occurred.
  • Locard’s Exchange Principle: The principle which states that the perpetrator will bring something into the crime scene and leave with something from it, thus providing a forensic trace.

Sources of Evidence in Burglary Investigations

Modus Operandi
  • Target Selection Inferences: Analyze how the perpetrator decided on the target.
  • Method of Entry: Identify how the burglar entered the premise.
  • Property Characteristics: Consider the type of property taken and the perceived amount of premeditation involved.
  • Search Techniques: Determine how the property was searched during the burglary.
Method of Target Selection
  • Planning: Burglars rarely make spur-of-the-moment decisions; they often conduct personal observations.
  • Victim Questioning: Query victims about:
    • Neighbors and individuals seen in the vicinity.
    • Past access records of individuals.
    • Suspicious behavior or calls prior to the burglary.
Method of Entry
  • Forced Entry Statistics: Approximately two-thirds of burglaries involve forced entry using tools, breaking windows, or kicking doors.
  • Unlocked Access: Many burglaries occur through unlocked doors/windows, indicating the need for awareness of security.
  • Entry Sophistication: The complexity of the entry method can often indicate the burglar’s expertise and experience.
Amount of Pre-Offense Planning
  • Professional vs. Novice Burglars: Experienced burglars often exhibit more planning compared to novices.
  • Indicators of Poor Planning: Includes lack of tools and disregard for potential risks involved in the burglary.
Method of Search for Property
  • Experienced Burglars: Typically target areas where high-value items are kept.
  • Search Techniques: Some burglars may ransack homes to maximize their haul.
Choice of Property Taken
  • CRAVED Items: Items considered to have high value for burglars are described by the acronym CRAVED, which stands for:
    • Concealable
    • Removable
    • Available
    • Valuable
    • Enjoyable
    • Disposable
  • Commonly Stolen Items: Drugs, cash, and small electronics are often targeted.
Locating the Stolen Property
  • Supporting Habits: Stolen goods may support an illicit drug habit or be converted to cash.
  • Professional Fences: Individuals who handle the resale of stolen goods typically do so discreetly, complicating recovery efforts.
Methods of Converting Stolen Property to Cash
  • Table 14.1: Overview of methods based on effort, reward, and risk:
    • Sell to a friend: Low effort, low reward, low risk.
    • Trade for drugs: Low effort, low reward, low risk.
    • Sell to a fence: Moderate effort and reward, moderate risk.
    • Sell to a pawnshop/secondhand dealer: Moderate effort, moderate reward, high risk.
    • Sell to strangers: High effort, high reward, high risk.
Physical Evidence
  • Common Occurrences: Physical evidence related to burglary is not usually abundant.
  • Look for Broken Glass: Investigators should pay attention to sites of forced entry for items like broken glass.
  • Places to Investigate: Investigators must consider locations where mistakes may have been made by the burglar.
Video and Digital Evidence
  • Sources of Surveillance: Investigate not just the location of the burglary, but also neighboring areas for cameras.
  • Alerts Creation: Use technology to create alerts for potential suspicious activity.
  • Digital Forensics: Involves examining suspects' smartphones or digital tracking devices.
Informants
  • Role of Informants: Unconnected individuals can provide crucial information but are often difficult to locate.
Other Considerations
  • Prolific Burglars: Many burglars may be involved in multiple criminal activities.
  • Cross-Association with Other Crimes: Identifying a burglar may also reveal other criminal involvements.

The Investigation of Vehicle Theft

Varieties and Characteristics of Vehicle Theft
  • Definition: Vehicle theft involves the stealing of automobiles, trucks, and buses.
  • Joyriding: A specific motive behind some thefts is simply the thrill of joyriding.
  • Risk Factors: Vehicles parked in public areas carry the greatest risk of theft.
  • Statistical Insights:
    • About 50% of stolen vehicles are eventually located.
    • Only 9% of vehicle thefts in 2022 resulted in an arrest of the offender.
Investigative Considerations with Vehicle Theft
  • Investigation Difficulty: Vehicle thefts are particularly challenging to solve.
  • Anti-Theft Systems: Implementing systems to prevent theft can also inadvertently increase carjacking tendencies.
  • Apprehension Opportunities: Knowing the best times and ways to apprehend thieves can significantly affect rates of recovery.
  • Catalytic Converter Theft: Investigating measures to prevent specific types of theft, such as catalytic converter removal, is vital.
Vehicle Identification and Technology
  • VINs and License Plate Readers: Officers monitor for indicators that vehicles may be stolen by checking unique vehicle identification numbers (VINs) and using License Plate Reader (LPR) technology.
Physical Evidence
  • Processing Recovered Vehicles: Important to process stolen vehicles for fingerprints and DNA to identify perpetrators and link them to the crime.
Eyewitnesses
  • Challenge of Finding Eyewitnesses: It can be difficult to locate witnesses, especially for vehicle thefts that may occur rapidly.
  • Peak Risk Times: Instances where cars are left unattended in parking lots exhibit the highest rates of vehicle theft.
Video and Digital Evidence
  • Presence of CCTV: Many crime scenes include video cameras that may capture vital evidence.
  • GPS and Tracking: Utilizing GPS tracking in vehicles and other technologies to track suspect movements can enhance recovery efforts.
Modus Operandi: Motive and Method
  • Basic to Advanced Techniques:
    • Least sophisticated methods often represent crimes of opportunity.
    • More sophisticated methods might involve bypassing ignition systems.
    • The most complex methods include obtaining an ignition code to create a duplicate key or cracking electronic codes to start vehicles.
  • Motivations for Theft: Primarily fall into two categories: joyriding and profit.
Use of Bait Cars
  • Strategic Use: Bait cars can be effective tools for law enforcement and provide an efficient way to capture car thieves red-handed.
Investigative Task Forces
  • Collaboration for Resources: Examples include the Arizona Vehicle Theft Task Force (AVTTF) and the Southeast Texas Auto Theft Task Force, which pool resources to combat vehicle theft effectively.

The Investigation of Arson

Varieties and Characteristics of Arson
  • Definition: Arson involves damaging property by setting it on fire.
  • Rarity: Arson is relatively uncommon in comparison to other property crimes.
  • Common Targets: Motor vehicles and single-family homes represent the primary types of property burned in arson.
  • Geographical Trends: Larger urban areas typically exhibit higher rates of arson.
Investigative Considerations with Arson
  • Determining Criminal Activity: Essential to establish that a crime has occurred.
  • Challenges in Evidence Gathering: Arson cases often lack clear evidence and witnesses.
  • Multi-Agency Involvement: Fire safety, control, and investigation efforts often have implications for multiple agencies.
  • Technical Complexity: Investigating arson requires specialized scientific techniques.
Responding to the Fire Scene: Initial Investigative Activities
  • Goals for First Responders: Must be aware of unusual circumstances like strange odors or behaviors that could produce key evidence.
  • Evidence Preservation: Ensuring reasonable efforts are made to maintain evidence integrity and protecting the crime scene from contamination is crucial.
  • Investigation Phases: The investigation must appropriately follow defined stages for continuity and thoroughness.
Evidence in Arson Investigations
  • Fire Classifications: Types of fires include:
    • Natural Fires: e.g., caused by lightning, with no human involvement.
    • Accidental Fires: e.g., stove fires, or accidents with children playing with matches.
    • Suspicious Fires: No definitive proof of arson, but circumstances merit investigation.
    • Incendiary Fires: These are actively set by individuals and considered arson.
    • Undetermined Causes: When fire origin cannot be determined, further probing is required.
Point of Origin and Causes of the Fire
  • Indicators: Critical indicators of fire cause and origin include:
    • Depth of char in materials.
    • Levels of soot present within the scene.
    • Patterns of flames that provide clues to fire dynamics.
  • Cause Analysis: Involves investigation of the point of origin, witness interviews, and examination of video evidence for conflicts and corroborations.
Evidence to Determine Who Committed the Arson
  • Types of Evidence: Successful investigations can rely on eyewitness accounts, forensic evidence, and digital surveillance data.
  • Motives: Includes pyromania, where individuals derive gratification from the act of setting fires, potentially connected to broader issues of vandalism or terrorism.

The Investigation of Larceny

Varieties and Characteristics of Larceny
  • Definition: Larceny represents the most prevalent type of property crime.
  • Modern Trends: Occurrences of organized thefts, such as “flash mob thefts” where many individuals participate in a theft simultaneously.
  • Arrests: Understanding demographics and behaviors of individuals arrested for larceny is essential for prevention and response strategies.
Investigative Considerations with Larceny
  • Lead Challenges: Larceny cases often yield few leads and demonstrate a limited variation in motive among offenders.
  • Video Evidence: Surveillance footage can often provide the most reliable and actionable evidence for larceny cases.
  • Property Recovery Considerations: Strategies for tracing and recovering stolen property must always be part of the investigation framework, alongside traditional methods of investigation.