New Mechanism Helps Reduce Burglary Crimes in Duluth

Profile Offenders By Behavioral Traits, Proximity

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With nearly 23,000 burglaries in Minnesota in 2013.

The Duluth Police Department says it’s time for a new tool to help them solve those crimes. 

It’s called Evidence Based Offender Profiling. 

Many departments in Southern Florida have seen better outcomes. 

So, they brought the new technique to Minnesota. 

The new approach profiles the offenders behavioral trait. 

There are 4 burglary offense styles. 

The first, is organized. 

“They target specific things at specific times,” said Retired Lt. of Pasco County Sheriff’s Dept., Brian Prescott. 

Then, disorganized.

“They’re very careless and leave behind a lot of evidence.”

Next, is opportunistic. 

“Whichever doors are unlocked and take whatever is of value in the inside.”

And lastly, interpersonal. 

“They go into the house and they aren’t looking to steal something.  They go in there and they want to send a message to the victim.”

Next, you look at where the crimes are happening. 

Prescott says 52% of criminals live less than a mile away. 

“We have this circle and we have these crimes and other criminal offenders that we know in this area.  And then it’s just good ole fashion police work.”

But, more than anything Prescott says the process helps enhance communication.

“By having this data set and having everyone feed the beast, so to speak, it puts everybody on the same sheet of music and everybody is responsible for maintaining this information.”

The Daytona Beach Police Department reported they were 3.5 times more likely to solve burglaries after using this approach, which is a 20% increase in arrest rates. 

The Duluth Police Department will implement the new approach after they have a trial run with a controlled group.