PORT ST. LUCIE POLICE DEPARTMENT

The Port St. Lucie Police Department was named in 2006 as a finalist for the Herman Goldstein award, which recognizes agencies who employ innovative methods to reduce crime and address public safety concerns through Problem Oriented Policing.  The project submitted for consideration, “Bulldozing” Construction Site Burglaries, was acknowledged for its work on reducing thefts from construction sites.  Using the Scanning Analysis Responding Assessment (S.A.R.A.) model and working with local builders, the police department enlisted the assistance of Florida Atlantic University’s professor, Dr. Rachel Boba, to analyze the thefts and in a collaborative effort work with the local building industry on innovative ways to prevent theft.

This project addressed crime at single family-home construction sites which constituted a large proportion of property crime in the city. Using multiple data sources the analysis revealed discernible spatial patterns where the burglaries were occurring; concentrations of thefts among builders such that 20 percent of area builders experienced 70 percent of the victimization; the majority of crimes required skillful offenders; and in many instances the property was taken when the house was securable. A multifaceted response was implemented and included shifting and sharing the responsibility of implementation with builders; improvement of pattern identification and responses to patterns, educating potential victims and potential guardians, and increasing police guardianship through construction site checks. The project achieved a steady decrease in monthly construction site burglaries over a two year period even while the number of houses under construction increased. Established and continued partnerships with CEOs, buildings supervisors, and the city’s building department were also achieved. As a result of these efforts, building thefts from construction sites were reduced by 66.6%.

This problem solving project was undertaken by a team of personnel including officers, detectives, detective sergeants, patrol sergeants, crime analysts, and a researcher.  The executive staff was integral in deciding which problem to address, approving additional data collection forms, as well as selection and implementation of responses.  All personnel in the Port St. Lucie Police Department received training in problem analysis in November and December of 2004.  They have been previously trained in problem solving and the SARA model. No additional incentives were given to participate in this project.  The general resources committed to the project were personnel time which did not go beyond the existing budget.  

For more information please contact Darin Howie at  jhowie@cityofpsl.com