NCJ Number
192662
Date Published
February 2001
Length
84 pages
Annotation
This study focused on property crime in the commercial multi-tenanted high-rise structure and what security tools can be used to combat it.
Abstract
There are high-rise structures in almost every major and minor city around the world. Yet very few studies have been made of crime pattern analysis for these structures. Police officers do not patrol these facilities so it is the responsibility of building security to provide a safe and secure environment. This study evaluated two types of vertical crime pattern analysis within the high-rise structure. The intent was to compare the computerized geographic information system (GIS) based crime pattern analysis against the more traditional pen and paper process. The research was predicated upon the belief that the approach should be based upon objectivity through experimentation, survey, and empirical research. Both types of vertical crime pattern analysis required evaluation of existing security reports, police reports, and a victimization study. Results showed that property crimes ranged from thefts of newspapers to those of automobiles. Reviews of the property loss reports showed that securing the items or taking them out of plain sight could have prevented many of the losses. The reporting differences between security and police were significant. Security within the buildings studied had a far more complete representation of property losses than did the police. Education of the tenant and employer in how to secure property would prevent further losses for a number of incidents. Strategies for opportunity reducing will be developed based on the findings from this research. The strategies developed will be shared with tenants, employers, security, and property managers within high-rise commercial structures in an effort to help reduce unnecessary losses. 7 appendices, bibliography