NCJ Number
140857
Journal
Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 20 Issue: 6 Dated: (1992) Pages: 541-551
Date Published
1992
Length
11 pages
Annotation
Despite the increasing popularity of the police sting operation, little attention has been paid to the potential effect of a fixed-site sting on the spatial distribution of thefts, in which property in close proximity to the sting location may be targeted by criminals. Using data from Birmingham, Alabama, the relationship between the spatial distribution of auto thefts and the location of a storefront sting is explored.
Abstract
The initial stage of this analysis focused on the degree of concentration or dispersal of the spatial patterns of sting auto theft locations during the police operation and the extent to which the patterns changed as it progressed. The findings showed that the theft sites tended to be clustered around the sting location but did not change significantly during the operation. The second phase of the analysis compared the spatial distributions of sting and nonsting auto theft locations. The results showed that the sting location did not influence the general pattern of auto theft in the city. This localization effect makes it possible for police to target a particular community crime problem without threatening a crime spillover into neighboring areas. However, this capacity to target gives police the responsibility to minimize the potential harm to other properties in the host community. The authors also note that storefront stings present police and criminologists with a rare opportunity to witness the development of a criminal network and to develop an in-depth understanding of criminal ecosystems. 3 tables, 3 figures, 3 notes, and 44 references