Crimewise Op-Ed

Don't Believe Everything You See On CSI Las Vegas, Miami, NY, etc.

A question from a reader:

Q: Teenagers threw rocks through my picture windows doing about $1000 worth of damage. The rocks have been recovered. They are smooth but do not have a "glass finish". We are about 80% sure we know who did it. Of course, they deny being the vandals. My police dept. is not interested in helping us.

They said that fingerprints could not be taken from the rocks (they never examined the rocks). I want to stop this vandalism and hold the culprits responsible for the damage. Can fingerprints be taken from the rocks?

My response:

A: Don't be too hard on your Police Department. They know from experience that the likelihood of lifting identifiable fingerprints from a rock - at least with the technology available to most local law enforcement agencies - is virtually zero. There is equipment at some larger crime labs that could do the job, but it's generally not available for solving relatively minor vandalism cases.  I'm sure $1,000 doesn't seem minor to you but when seen as part of the bigger crime picture, it is.

Even if law enforcement was able to lift a print from the rock, problems remain. First and foremost is the issue of who supplied the print. There has to already be a comparison print on file somewhere to get a match. Since the person you suspect is a juvenile, chances are his or her fingerprints are not on file and mere suspicion is probably not enough to bring them in and take their prints. Even if there is a comparison print on file, the time and cost to locate and match it may not be justified.

And finally, even if you could lift a print and match it to someone, the chances of successfully prosecuting them are slim. A good defense attorney would argue that his client had a habit of picking up rocks as they innocently walked along the streets. They would argue that their client's prints are on lots of rocks but some other person threw this particular rock and their prints just were not found.  That could create reasonable doubt, and convictions require proof beyond a reasonable doubt. Without a credible witness you could never prove that your suspect was the rock thrower. District Attorneys get re-elected based - at least in part - on the number of cases their office successfully prosecutes. They don't prosecute cases they know they can't win...and they shouldn't.  Prosecutions are expensive and the DA is obligated to spend public money responsibly.  Same goes for the police.  They have to expend their limited resources where they will be most effective.

Unfortunately, while they are certainly entertaining, the various CSI TV shows and their TV crime fighter counterparts present an unrealistic picture of real life crime scene investigation.  Much of the technology used by our TV heros either doesn't exist as it is portrayed, or is so exotic and expensive that only a very few major crime labs have it.  As such, demand vastly outstrips availability and serious crimes get priority.

If this is an ongoing problem I recommend you install video surveillance equipment to document the crimes. Give them pictures of your vandals in action and I think you will find your police department to be much more responsive.

Article Reprint: Crime Free By Design

"Crime will kill a business district. Fortunately there is a planning tool that can both prevent crime and increase the perception of safety. That tool is Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design or CPTED. Anyone tasked with the development or redevelopment of a business district or downtown area should be familiar with the CPTED principles.

The CPTED goal is the elimination of crime by removing opportunities for criminal activity while encouraging legitimate use of an area. The success of CPTED stems from the manner in which crime prevention concepts are integrated into the architectural and streetscape design process."

Click here to go to Experts.com to read the complete reprint of this article which was originally published in the California Downtown Association's Newsletter.

Q: I am purchasing a new home. What should I look for to provide the best security for my family?

This question was submitted to me through the Ventura County Star Newspaper's "Ask the Experts" feature.  My answer was published on March 14, 2011.

A: There are several factors that contribute to the security of a home. You don't say whether you already own the home or are currently looking. If you are still looking, I recommend you research the crime rates in the neighborhoods that interest you.

Also look at the local police department. What is their level of professionalism? Do they have an active crime prevention program? Are they supported by the community? What is their average response time to emergency calls? Are they understaffed? Are they progressive, employing state of the art equipment?

Once you find the right location, look at the crime resistance characteristics of the building and property. Start at the curb and work your way in. Is the house easy to find (street numbers) if police or fire units need to locate it in a hurry? Are the house and grounds well lit at night? Is landscaping maintained in such a way that it allows good visibility around the house? Are there places in the bushes where a criminal could hide? Do trees and shrubs hide doors and windows giving burglars privacy during a break in? Are all exterior doors of solid construction and equipped with quality deadbolt locks? Are sliding doors and windows equipped with adequate locking devices? Are garage doors equipped with high quality automatic openers? Does the house have – or should you consider installing - an intrusion alarm? Do some research to find out if an alarm system will significantly enhance your level of security. Usually it will, but not everyone's lifestyle, and finances are compatible with an alarm system.

Talk to the neighbors. Is there an organized neighborhood watch? Vigilant neighbors are a superb crime prevention tool. Your local police department will probably be able to provide some assistance in this area.

Obviously, there is no one size fits all answer to your question. While they have some things in common, what applies to a tract home may not be applicable to a condominium or sufficient for an estate property. Most local police departments have a crime prevention unit that offers free home security advice. Contact your local department and see what they can do for you. You can also educate yourself using the internet. Do a search on “home crime prevention” or “residential crime prevention.”

Finally, in some situations such as homes in rural or other isolated areas, or when executive residential or estate homes are involved, the advice of an independent security consultant may be useful in achieving the maximum level of protection.