THE BURGLARY PREVENTION AND INVESTIGATION UNIT OF THE ALBANY POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS ESTABLISHED IN OCTOBER 1974. THE PROJECT AREA WAS THE CENTER SQUARE VICINITY OF THE CITY--AN AREA CHOSEN BECAUSE DEPARTMENTAL MONITORING SHOWED AN ALARMING INCREASE IN THE INCIDENCE RATE FOR CENTER SQUARE BURGLARIES IN 1973 AND 1974. AN ANALYSIS OF THE TARGET AREA LED TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THE HIGH INCIDENCE OF BURGLARY WAS DUE TO AN INCREASINGLY MOBILE POPULATION THAT UNDERMINED NEIGHBORHOOD COOPERATIVE CONCERN AND A DETERIORATING ENVIRONMENT THAT FACILITATED EASY ACCESS TO HOUSES. THE OPERATIONS OF THE BURGLARY PREVENTION AND INVESTIGATION UNIT WERE ACCORDINGLY PLANNED TO PROVIDE A COMPREHENSIVE BURGLARY PREVENTION PROGRAM WHICH STRESSED THE NEED FOR COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND COOPERATION. IN ADDITION, SPECIALIZED TRAINING IN BURGLARY INVESTIGATION METHODS WAS PROVIDED FOR UNIT MEMBERS. CRIME PREVENTION ACTIVITIES INCLUDED AN OPERATION TO HAVE RESIDENTS IDENTIFY POSSESSIONS, SECURITY CHECKS, THE DISTRIBUTION OF BURGLARY PREVENTION LITERATURE, CRIME PREVENTION ADVICE PROGRAMS, SPECIAL POLICE DETAILS, AND INFORMAL MEETINGS WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS. EACH ACTIVITY IS DISCUSSED IN DETAIL. THE SUBJECTS COVERED IN TRAINING UNIT MEMBERS IN SPECIALIZED BURGLARY INVESTIGATION TECHNIQUES ARE LISTED AND BRIEFLY DESCRIBED. COMPARISON OF THE BURGLARY COMPLAINT REPORTS FOR CENTER SQUARE DURING THE CALENDAR YEARS 1973, 1974, AND 1975 INDICATED THAT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SPECIAL UNIT WAS EFFECTIVE IN REDUCING THE BURGLARY INCIDENCE RATE IN CENTER SQUARE. A 53.2 PERCENT DECREASE OCCURRED IN THE NUMBER OF BURGLARIES REPORTED DURING 1975 AS COMPARED TO 1974. A CITYWIDE ANALYSIS OF BURGLARIES DURING THIS PERIOD SHOWED NO DISPLACEMENT EFFECT. THE APPENDIX PROVIDES DATA RELATING TO THE WORK OF THE BURGLARY UNIT. (RCB)