Lt

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Lt. Johnson is in charge of the patrol division of the Greenfield Police Department. While reviewing logs and police reports, he detects an increase in residential burglaries during the previous month. The burglaries are being reported on the afternoon shift when residents return home from work. Most of burglaries are occurring in one neighborhood. Lt. Johnson calls the afternoon patrol supervisor to inquire about the burglaries. The supervisor tells him he is aware of the problem and has been assigning officers to patrol the neighborhood. The supervisor notes that the burglaries are all on Thursdays and Fridays, but adds, “It’s like trying to find a needle in a hay stack.”

Lt. Johnson contacts the investigations supervisor and learns that he is also aware of the increase in bur- glaries. The supervisor tells Johnson that they have fingerprints from several of the burglaries, but no suspects.

He speculates it might be kids because most of the losses are cigarettes, liquor, and smal amounts of cash. When Lt. Johnson talks to the day patrol supervisor, he learns that the supervisor isn't aware of an increase in burglaries because none have been reported during his shift. The supervisor says they have been dealing. with loitering and disorderly conduct problems at the shopping center. He says high school kids are hanging around the video arcade during the day, and he plans to meet with the high school principai to figure out why these kids aren't in school.

 

Lt. Johnson realizes that patrolling and reactive investigations usually have a minimal effect on preventing burglaries. He decides on a new approach.

 

1. How might Lt. Johnson address the burglary problem more effectively?

2. If Lt. Johnson decides on a problem-solving approach, who should he include in his group of problem solvers? Be creative.

3. Can you suggest how inviting the high school principal, the owner of the local arcade, and residents from the neighborhood where the burglaries are occurring might be helpful?

4. Suggest a single problem that may be causing other problems in the community.

5. How could this problem-solving group be used in the future?