IN 1973, THE SAN DIEGO POLICE DEPARTMENT ESTABLISHED A FENCING UNIT ON A TRIAL BASIS TO IDENTIFY AND APPREHEND RECEIVERS OF STOLEN PROPERTY. OPERATIONS INCLUDED THE DEVELOPMENT OF INFORMERS, SURVEILLANCE, AND TECHNIQUES TO IDENTIFY UNSERIALIZED PROPERTY. THESE ACTIVITIES LED TO MORE THAN 200 ARRESTS FOR RECEIVING STOLEN PROPERTY, AS WELL AS A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF PROPERTY RECOVERED AND RETURNED TO OWNER. BASED ON THIS APPARENT SUCCESS, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT RECEIVED LEAA FUNDS TO EXPAND THE FENCING UNITS ACTIVITIES TO INCLUDE THE ENTIRE SAN DIEGO REGION. IT WAS INTENDED THAT THE EXPANSION OF THE UNIT'S ACTIVITIES WOULD STRENGTHEN ANTI-FENCING WORK IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS. A SURVEY OF LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL IN THE REGION INDICATED PARTIAL SUCCESS, BUT ALSO ADVISED THAT A TASK FORCE APPROACH WOULD HAVE BEEN A MORE EFFECTIVE MEANS OF COUNTERING REGIONAL FENCING ACTIVITY. A REVIEW OF ARRESTS AND PROPERTY RECOVERY REVEALED THAT REGIONALIZATION WAS NOT COST BENEFICIAL. A MAJOR RECOMMENDATION OF THE STUDY STATED THAT THE SAN DIEGO POLICE DEPARTMENT FENCING UNIT SHOULD CURTAIL REGIONAL ACTIVITY AND FOCUS ON PROPERTY CRIMES IN THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO, WITH A CONSEQUENT MANPOWER REDUCTION TO THE LEVEL EXISTING PRIOR TO REGIONALIZATION. COOPERATIVE EFFORTS BETWEEN THE SAN DIEGO POLICE AND THE SHERIFF'S FENCING DETAIL ARE URGED TO PREVENT DUPLICATION OF OPERATIONS AND IMPROVE COMMUNICATION ABOUT PROPERTY CRIMES.