Vehicle Burglary

Ricardo Figueroa

What is a Vehicle Burglary?

• A vehicle burglary by definition is the entering or remaining of a conveyance with the intent to commit an offense therein.

• Common crimes that are committed during vehicle burglaries include:– Auto Theft: theft of a car.– Grand Theft: a felony where the property

stolen is valued at more than $300.– Petit Theft: a misdemeanor where the

property stolen is valued at less than $300.

• Stolen property can be sold to businesses (Pawn Shops, GameStop), friends, people found on internet (Craigslist, Facebook) or traded for drugs.

Types of Property Stolen

• Personal property and car components.GPS DeviceLaptopLoose change

Phones Car Stereo Car Speakers

Burglary Methods

• Easiest and most common method for vehicle burglaries involve going car to car to search for unlocked doors. This is referred to as “Car Hopping.”

Burglary Methods• Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbM3GP908g8

Burglary Methods

• A smash and grab is when a thief searches vehicles for property to be stolen. If the car is locked the window is smashed and the property taken.

Burglary Methods• Source:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H73PWKX-w3I

Burglary Methods

• Burglary tools are tools used to open a locked car. Such tools allow criminals to open a vehicle slowly and without noise, but may set off a car alarm.

• Burglary tools can be items such as a power wedge, air bag, long tool, lock pick, spark plug, crowbar, magnet, blow torch, or spray can and lighter.

Burglary MethodsPower Wedge Long Tool

Lock Picks

Burglary Methods• Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFqCJtyYJ90

Burglary Methods

• Burglaries can be committed by multiple people or one person acting alone.

• When multiple people are involved in a burglary, one person can commit the burglary while the other is a lookout.

Burglary Methods

• Lookouts can signal their partners many ways such as yelling, texting, hitting a car horn, call by phone, or flashing light.

Burglary Methods

• The property stolen can be stored in school back packs, hoodie pockets, pockets of jeans, cars, purses, etc.

Burglary Phases

• Prowl: the thief steadily observes and/or roams about the sidewalk or street to see who is in the area.

• Search: the thief searches for open vehicles and vehicles with property inside.

• Execute: enter the vehicle to be burglarized.• Flee: If property is found the thief will move

on until he or she is satisfied, or flees when he suspects someone has witnessed the crime.

Detecting a Burglary

• Victims may detect their car has been burglarized when they find their car open, glove compartment searched, property missing, dome lights on, or if they have video surveillance that records the crime.

• On work days (Monday to Friday) victims are unlikely to know their car was burglarized if only small items such as keys or documents were taken.

Detecting a Burglary

Do you know your neighbor?• For neighbors or residents passing

through the area it is much harder to detect if your car has been burglarized.

• When neighbors know each other, a neighbor is more likely to identify when a neighbor’s car is being burglarized or about to be when a stranger is in the driveway.

Security Officers• Security officers ability to identify a car

burglary depends on each guard’s personal experience.– Newer guards who don’t know residents in a

community, or inexperienced guards, are unlikely to detect when a burglary is occurring

– Experienced guards are more likely to identify a burglary, because of prior experiences and recent reports of burglary and/or drug activity.

Detecting a Burglary

Burglary Prevention

• Do not leave valuable items inside of your car.

• Keeping the interior clean and free of clutter or garbage makes your car less attractive to thieves.Less Desirable More Desirable

Burglary Prevention

• Lock your car doors and close your windows completely. Check each door to ensure that they are locked, because crooks will try every door on your car.

• Some communities may post signs to warn visitors not to leave valuable items in the car.

Burglary Prevention

• If your car has an alarm then make sure it is on and working properly.

• Do not store items in your trunk, because most car alarms will not work if the trunk is broken into.

BAD IDEA!

Burglary Prevention

• Adding video surveillance to your home may push away some criminals, but the desperate criminals will try anyway.

• Most burglaries occur between 10PM and 2AM. These are the best times to check video to see if someone tried to break into your or your neighbor’s car.

Burglary Prevention

• If your community utilizes a security agency, you should report any burglaries, drug activity, suspicious persons, and teenagers hanging out in the community after 10PM.

• Security Officers should always keep records of persons in the area and report to police any unusual activity in the area.

• Residents and visitors should be encouraged by security to report suspicious persons as well!

Burglary Prevention

• Security agencies, police, and homeowner’s associations should analyze monthly crime reports on a map to search for paths and trends.

Burglary Prevention

• The organization of a community can help determine where the burglars are from.– If the community is gated

• Burglaries in the center of the property are most likely done by people who live in the community.

• Burglaries near the entrances are more likely done by visitors.

Burglary Prevention

• Communities without a gate have less organization and are more easy to be victimized by burglars.

• Apartment complexes and condominiums which feature parking lots where cars are parked far from the building should have video surveillance and security.

Burglary Prevention

What to report?• Teens walking around the neighborhood

after dark or after curfew.• Illicit drug use such as marijuana use.– Teens who use drugs that are not old

enough to work or unable to gain employment are more likely to commit burglaries and thefts.

Burglary Prevention

What to report?• Unusual activity should be reported:– Persons dressed inappropriately, such as

wearing a hoodie when it is hot, humid and 85+ degrees outside.

– Teens circling around the neighborhood while carrying an empty school backpack on a Saturday night.

– Persons walking in and out of driveways or looking inside car windows.

Burglary Prevention

• In regards to unusual activity:– Ask yourself, why do you consider it unusual?

• Is the person a stranger?• Are you concerned about teens in an area with

frequent burglaries?• Did you see the person trying to open several cars

or look into several car windows?• Did the person walk into several drive ways, or

trespass onto private property?

– Never confront a person you suspect is committing a crime. Call police!

Burglary Prevention

• Creating flyers, posting crime watch signs, or holding crime watch meetings can help communities understand the crime occurring in the neighborhood.

• Persons who are afraid to report crime activity must understand that there are many ways to report crime and remain anonymous.

Burglary Prevention

• Below are contacts for Miami-Dade Residents.

If you have an emergency always dial 911 first.

Phone Tipline: 305-471-8477Text Tipline: 274637Online Tips: www.tipsubmit.com or

www.sarsx.mdpd.com

The End

Presentation created by:Ricardo Figueroa