An Evaluation of Crimes

Purdue University Global

CJ110-01

Crime analysis is an important part of law enforcement: In order to properly create and implement responses to crimes, analyzation of the crime data must be performed. Depending upon the types of crimes, the severity and the desired outcome of the responses, the analyst and police can implement either short-or-long term responses. There are three types of analysis, but for the sake of this paper, I will be discussing only one of those which I feel pertains to the following crime incident reports.

Upon reviewing the crime reports given, I concluded that the best type of crime analysis for these incidents would be that of tactical analysis. Tactical analysis focuses on the analyzation of police data such as crime reports, creating and implementing short-term responses to the incidents such as patrol routes, deciding upon which crimes take priority during the investigation process, and how resources should be used . The reason that I have chosen tactical analysis is that the crimes took place during the time periods of July through August.

Further review of the crime reports determined that the incidents were all related, thus making it a crime series. What is a crime series? A crime series is a series of crimes that are similar in nature and that are believed to be committed by the same person or group of people . The reason that I concluded that this was a crime series is that the crimes took place on State Street, there were masks used that were very distinctive, i.e. the Scream Ghost Mask and the Jigsaw mask, and the crimes committed were very similar with the same modus operandi.

What is modus operandi? Modus operandi, or signature, is the method of operation of the offender. This is the distinctive features of the crime, in this case the fact that the perpetrators wore the Scream and Jigsaw masks, the crimes took place on State Street, that very similar phrases were used to control the clerks, the lead individual would speak to the clerks, jump over the counter and fill bags taken from the store with money, as well as cartons of Marlboro cigarettes . The suspects always wore dark clothing when committing the crimes and carried pistols. There was also the fact that the suspects had the clerks to lay on the ground for fifteen minutes before they could move, and that there were no supporting witnesses to the crime aside from the clerk.

What differences in modus operandi were there? One feature of two of the crimes was that the getaway vehicle was a Ford Taurus, whereas the first crime committed, the clerk was unable to discern where and how the suspect fled. In the last crime, the clerk was pistol whipped by the suspect due to her screaming. There is also the fact that in the last crime committed, there was only one suspect that went into the business.

Why is it important to establish the modus operandi of crimes? There are several reasons that make it important to identify the modus operandi of an offender(s). The first reason is that it can help investigators to understand how the crime was committed, as well as what was used. The next reason is that establishing a modus operandi helps to identify linked crime series. It also helps to possibly identify known criminals and their modus operandi and to try to link them with the crimes that are being and have been committed. There is also the fact that, by establishing modus operandi, analysts and police can predict future crime patterns, create and implement measures to help to combat these behaviors and to try to help law enforcement personnel to catch the offender during the commission of a crime .

Were there any identifying features that could help to establish the identities of the offenders? Now, according to the witness reports, one offender had no discernable accent, while another was stated to have an indistinguishable accent. Another possible identifying feature is the fact that, in two of the robberies, the suspects were seen fleeing in an early 2000s model Ford Taurus with temporary license plates. In the last robbery, the lone suspect had shorts on, allowing the clerk to view the color of his skin, which was white, as well as the fact that he had a rather large, distinctive tattoo of a spider with blood droplets on his right leg. There is also the fact that the suspect called out to another person, presumably the getaway driver, with the name Nemo.

Why is it important to determine identifying features? In the case of the accents, there is a high probability that, if suspects were caught, that the witnesses could view them in a lineup, the police could have them speak the lines that they had spoken to that witness, and the witness could then identify the suspects through their spoken words. In the case of the vehicle description, this gives investigators an avenue to look through: They could utilize the Division of Motor Vehicles records in order to search for early model 2000s Ford Taurus vehicles that have or had temporary license plates. In the case of the one suspect’s skin color and large, distinctive tattoo, this gives police a very distinctive feature that can positively identify that suspect. Investigative officers can search through databases of criminals for that identifying tattoo, and if unable to find a record, they can then canvass tattoo parlors trying to find the artist of said tattoo. The last possibly identifying feature is that of the spoken name, Nemo. Why is this important? This can allow for law enforcement to look through databases searching for the name Nemo, which could either be a true name, or it could be an alias, aka a street name.

What can law enforcement possibly notice from the witness reports that could also help with identifying the suspects? In each of the three incidents, the robberies took place all in the same area, which was State Street. Each appeared to also be easily navigated during the crime taking place. What can be inferred by the above information? The suspects seem to prefer committing their crimes on that particular street, which could imply that they are familiar with that geographical area, which could mean that they live within a relatively close proximity to the locations. The ease with which the crimes took place, i.e. that there were no additional supporting witnesses, could suggest that the suspects were familiar with the businesses including when there would be little to no foot traffic. Investigative officers and analysts analyzing this information could view a map, generate possible areas in which the suspects might reside, and set forth to canvassing the areas that were identified.

Now, having established the importance of identifying a crime series, modus operandi, identifying features, and the type of analysis to be used for these crime reports, we can now move onto what type of work products can be created and utilized. Just what are work products? Work products are what is utilized to help with solving crimes, interdepartmental alerts and memos, and recommendations of responses to help combat crimes.

What type of work products could fit this situation? Investigative officers could distribute APBs (All Points Bulletins) and BOLOs (Be On The Lookouts) in an effort to try to locate the getaway car, or even the suspects if on foot. A designated officer could speak with the local news media, alerting the public of the suspects and what to look for. Flyers could be generated and handed out by officers canvassing the surrounding neighborhood. Officers could also post information that would be designated safe for public consumption via various social media, i.e. Facebook.

In this report, I analyzed the information given within three crime reports. I described what type of analysis that I believed fit the crimes, as well as described what a crime series is and why I believe that these incidents fits with the description of a crime series. I analyzed and described the modus operandi, what it is, and the similar and dissimilar features of the modus operandi within this series. I have explained what identifying features of the suspects could help to solve these crimes, and how they are helpful to investigators. Last, but not least, I have described what work products are, and what type of work products that I believe would be helpful in solving these crimes.

As I have hopefully expressed the importance of proper crime reports and the analyzation thereof, it can be seen just what analysts and law enforcement can generate from the information contained. Analyzation is an important function when it comes to solving crimes, and without proper analyzation of the incidents, it is less likely that the crimes will either be solved, or that proper responses can be generated in order to combat the problems. As can be seen in this report, there are many ways in which the analyzation can help support investigators, especially during an investigation, and without the right information given, there is always the possibility that an innocent individual could be implicated in the crimes, or if the case goes to trial, that the case can be dismissed due to improper or missing information. If proper information is utilized, the investigation goes through proper channels, and the information is given clearly, concisely and truthfully, then analyzation is a powerful tool that can help with combating crimes and convicting offenders.