U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

NCJRS Virtual Library

The Virtual Library houses over 235,000 criminal justice resources, including all known OJP works.
Click here to search the NCJRS Virtual Library

BURGLARY PREVENTION - INMATE INTERVIEW PROJECT

NCJ Number
46707
Author(s)
P PALMER
Date Published
1978
Length
16 pages
Annotation
TO CHARACTERIZE THE CRIMINAL CAREERS, MODUS OPERANDI, AND ATTITUDES OF ADULTS AND JUVENILES WITH A HISTORY OF INVOLVEMENT IN BURGALRY, INTERVIEWS WERE CONDUCTED WITH 52 JUVENILE AND ADULT OFFENDERS WITH BURGLARY HISTORIES.
Abstract
THE OVERALL AIM OF THE INMATE INTERVIEW PROJECT WAS TO DERIVE INFORMATION APPLICABLE TO BURGLARY PREVENTION AND DETERRENCE EFFORTS. IN GENERAL, THE BURGLARY OFFENDER BECOMES INVOLVED IN BURGLARY AT AN EARLY AGE (12 OR 13) THROUGH ASSOCIATIONS WITH PEERS AND INITIALLY FOR PERSONAL ENJOYMENT. INITIAL ATTEMPTS WERE REFINED THROUGH EXPERIENCE AND EVENTUALLY DEVELOPED INTO A CRIMINAL LIFESTYLE. WHILE MANY BURGLARS USED SOFT DRUGS, FEW WERE HEAVY DRUG USERS, ALTHOUGH DRUG ADDICTS TEND TO COMMIT GREATER NUMBERS OF BURGLARIES AS THEIR CASH NEEDS INCREASE. MANY OF THE INMATES FELT INCARCERATION WAS AN EFFECTIVE DETERRENT BECAUSE OF THE ENFORCED ISOLATION FROM CRIMINALLY ACTIVE FORMER ASSOCIATES. TYPICALLY, OFFENDERS CASED A PROSPECTIVE BURGLARY SITE BY DRIVING BY IT. WHILE JUVENILES OFTEN CONCENTRATED ON SITES IN THEIR IMMEDIATE NEIGHBORHOODS, MORE SOPHISTICATED OFFENDERS DID NOT. IN GENERAL, THE APPARENT AFFLUENCE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE SPECIFIC DWELLING INFLUENCED THE CHOICE OF SITE. MOST BURGLARS EITHER TELEPHONED THE RESIDENCE OR KNOCKED AT THE FRONT DOOR TO DETERMINE IF RESIDENTS WERE PRESENT. ENTRANCE IS THEN USUALLY MADE THROUGH THE BROKEN GLASS OF A REAR DOOR OR CONCEALED WINDOW. STOLEN ITEMS WERE USUALLY THOSE WHICH COULD BE EASILY SOLD; FIREARMS WERE RARELY STOLEN. FEW BURGLARS SOLD TO FENCES. THERE WAS NO CONSENSUS ABOUT THE BEST TIME OF DAY OR NIGHT OR CLOTHING WORN. TOOLS USUALLY INCLUDED A SCREWDRIVER OR PLIERS AND TAPE FOR BREAKING THE GLASS. ACCORDING TO THE BURGLARS, NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH PROGRAMS, POLICE PATROLS, LOCKS (ESPECIALLY DEADBOLTS), LARGE DOGS INSIDE THE RESIDENCE, AND POSSIBLY THE PRESENCE OF LIGHTS OR SOUND IN THE RESIDENCE INCREASE THE BURGLAR'S PERCEIVED RISK AND THUS ACT AS EFFECTIVE DETERRENTS. OPERATION IDENTIFICATION AT PRESENT HAS LITTLE DETERRENT VALUE; GREATER STANDARDIZATION AND PARTICIPATION WILL BE NECESSARY IF IT IS TO BE EFFECTIVE. PATROL OFFICERS SHOULD APPROACH A SUSPECTED BURGLARY SITE ON FOOT AND FROM COORDINATED DIRECTIONS. IF ABANDONED LOOT OR THE SUSPECT'S VEHICLE IS LOCATED, A STAKE-OUT IS RECOMMENDED. ATTITUDES OF RESPECT FOR POLICE AND A LACK OF HOSTILITY TOWARD POLICE SUGGEST THAT POLICE CAN BE EFFECTIVE IN APPREHENDING A BURGLAR WITHOUT USE OF EXCESSIVE FORCE AND THAT A FRIENDLY ADVERSARIAL APPROACH MIGHT PROVE THE BEST INTERROGATION TECHNIQUE. THE POTENTIAL IMPORTANCE OF BARKING DOG COMPLAINTS AS INDICATORS OF A POSSIBLE BUGLARY, AND THE NEED FOR INCREASING PUBLIC AWARENESS OF SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES ARE ALSO NOTED. NO TABULAR DATA OR REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (JAP)