1. “Bulldozing” Construction Site Burglary in Port St. Lucie, FL Presentation by: Detective Sergeant Roberto Santos Dr. Rachel Boba Problem-Oriented Policing Conference, Madison Wisconsin September 2006

2. Port St. Lucie, FL Hurricane Frances, 2004

3. Port St. Lucie, FL Hurricane Jeanne, 2004

4. Port St. Lucie, FL Hurricane Wilma, 2005

5. Port St. Lucie, FL 151,000 population One of the fastest growing in the US 115 square miles 255 authorized sworn Implementing Integrated Model of Problem Solving, Analysis, and Accountability

6. Scanning Growth is a key issue for both city and PD Population to increase to 214,997 by 2016 450 to 600 new building permits per month 6,000 homes under construction any given day Department recognized as a problem

7. Analysis Process Previous responses Department-wide committee Define the problem Develop hypotheses Data collection Analysis results Response recommendations

8. Definition of the Problem Single family homes Burglary: from within the buildings Theft: from the construction sites No vandalism City-wide focus

9. Hypotheses 1.Trollers –Individuals drive around neighborhoods looking for the opportunity to take property from construction sites for resale or personal use 2.Insiders –Builders and subcontractors steal from one another to use the stolen property in ongoing work and to sell 3.Professionals –Individuals who make a living at burglary and selling stolen goods

10. Data Collection: Police Reports Data from 2004 Report narratives –Reviewed to determine inclusion in study –MO characteristics –Level of difficulty Aggregate data analyzed –Date, time, location –Property taken –Builder (victim) information

11. Data Collection: CSBT Check Sheet New information collected by at the scene Additional check sheet to accompany report Information collected: –Builder information –Subcontractor information –Property delivered by –Insurance information –Stage of building –Tools needed

12. Data Collection: Improved Narratives

13. Data Collection: Observation

16. Data Collection: Builders and Building Department Presented some information but keyed on obtaining information –Builder’s practices –Subcontractor characteristics –Crime problems –Crime prevention

17. Analysis Results

18. Frequency by Month

19. Spatial Analysis Geographically focused: Most crime in the southwest No repeat victimization of sites: Only 12 of 254 addresses victimized twice

20. Repeat Victims: Builders Builder Number of Reported Incidents Percent of Total Cumulative Percent Percent of Total Builders (N=70) Cumulative Percent Renar Homes4016.9% 1.4% Adams Homes156.3%23.2%1.4%2.9% Levitt And Sons156.3%29.5%1.4%4.3% Ameritrend Homes145.9%35.4%1.4%5.7% Hanover Homes145.9%41.4%1.4%7.1% Mercedes Homes114.6%46.0%1.4%8.6% Royal Professional Builders104.2%50.2%1.4%10.0% Willard Brothers Construction104.2%54.4%1.4%11.4% Maronda Home Builders73.0%57.4%1.4%12.9% Princeton Homes73.0%60.3%1.4%14.3% RJM Homes62.5%62.9%1.4%15.7% Associated Homes Inc.52.1%65.0%1.4%17.1% Groza Builders52.1%67.1%1.4%18.6% Paramount Homes52.1%69.2%1.4%20.0% All Others7330.8%100.0%80.0%100.0% Total237100.0%

21. Clearances 1.9% (5 of 266 cases) were cleared by arrest of either an adult or a juvenile 2.6% (7 cases) were exceptionally cleared (adult)

22. Property Taken The top six types of property constitutes 70.5% of all property taken. Type of Property Number of Reported Incidents Percent of Total Building Supplies5219.5% Appliances4516.9% Internal cosmetic249.0% Construction equipment249.0% AC related238.6% Doors/Windows207.5% Pool related114.1% Rebar83.0% Ladder62.3% Hurricane Shutters31.1% Well pump31.1% Other134.9% Unknown/Not applicable*3412.8% Total266100.0% *Criminal damage incidents.

23. Difficulty Characteristics ValueSkillTransportAccess 0 1 2 Each narrative was coded using the values below Actual offender behavior not known, so skill and transport were estimated based on MO and property type

24. Difficulty Characteristics ValueSkillTransportAccess 0 No skill 1 Heavy, awkward, forcibly removed 2 Skills/tools Each narrative was coded using the values below Actual offender behavior not known, so skill and transport were estimated based on MO and property type

25. Difficulty Characteristics ValueSkillTransportAccess 0 No skillWalk away 1 Heavy, awkward, forcibly removed Car, small truck 2 Skills/toolsTruck and/or trailer Each narrative was coded using the values below Actual offender behavior not known, so skill and transport were estimated based on MO and property type

26. Difficulty Characteristics ValueSkillTransportAccess 0 No skillWalk awayOutside/visible/ unattached 1 Heavy, awkward, forcibly removed Car, small truck Outside attached, inside visible attached and/or unattached 2 Skills/toolsTruck and/or trailerSecured inside Each narrative was coded using the values below Actual offender behavior not known, so skill and transport were estimated based on MO and property type

27. Difficulty: Skill 90% of crimes required some sort of skill

28. Difficulty: Transport 88% of property needed at least a small car/truck for transport

29. Difficulty: Access 75% of property was more difficult to access

30. Stage of Building Builders and officers’ experience also support these conclusions.

31. Focus Groups Builders Subcontractors often provide their own materials Crime less than $300 not typically reported Tension between the builders and the building department Builders believe that the homes are most vulnerable in the final stages of building Building Department Appliance installation not required before closing On average, it takes about 10.5 months to build a house Electricity meter inspections occurs when the house is securable and safe Change in building culture in recent years

32. Analysis Findings Targets: 6,000 homes under construction per day Geographically focused: southwest Repeat victimization of builders, not addresses Low arrest rate Construction supplies/equipment and appliances Crimes require higher level of skill, transport, and access Property taken when the house securable Electricity meter inspections are a “real time” indicator of when the house is securable

33. Responses Committee made recommendations to chief General and targeted approach to responses Shift and share responsibility with builders

34. Responses General Responses: –Patterns –Educating victims and guardians –Increase police guardianship –Meet and train builders Targeted Reponses: –Working with specific builders to implement responses

35. General Response Pattern Identification Implemented pattern analysis Developed offender interview questionnaire Use information to identify problem subcontractors Provide patterns to builders

36. Example Pattern

38. General Response Educate Potential Victims and Guardians Media: Radio, television, newspaper Community meetings Utility bill announcement Crime stoppers

42. General Response Attend builders meetings –Treasure Coast Builders Association –Provided general crime prevention advice, problem analysis results, and ongoing patterns Security check by officers –Weekly addresses of meter inspections –Report distributed to patrol officers –Addresses in riskiest areas prioritized –Daily checks of the sites –“Crime opportunity forms” were left at sites not secured or with vulnerable property –Building supervisors check individual sites each day –Discussion with builders indicated they were receiving the forms

43. Targeted Response Focus on Repeat Builders 20% of the builders victimized account for 70% of the reported crime Conduct further analysis on selected builders –poor place management practices –lack of guardianship –long delivery and installation windows –carelessness in protecting property Held meeting builders with high and low crime Work with the builders to tailor responses based on analysis and experience

44. Targeted Response Builder meeting: Good Practices One company has a waiver for banks to sign for responsibility for appliances if they insist on installation too early. One company requires homeowners to take out builder risk insurance. One company only works with certain subcontractors. One company delivers appliances the day before closing. In its planned communities, one company takes back the master key after the appliances have been installed and only the supervisor has the key. Subsequent subcontractors have to contact that person for entry.

45. Results: Renar Homes Response Began The spike of four crimes in July 2005 was the result of one offender hitting four houses over one weekend. Number of homes assigned to site supervisor: 25-30 to 15 Focus on property left on site Delayed installation of appliances

46. Results: Adams Homes Appliances were the top theft concern Reduced the time the appliances were installed before closing Assign a person to check that homes were secured on a daily basis Response Began

47. Results: Hanover Homes Pool equipment stolen more often Installed video surveillance cameras at particular construction sites Removed the pool equipment and re-installed just before the closing Response Began

48. Results: Royal Professional Builders Air conditioning units were stolen more often Delayed installation of air conditioning units Implemented stickers in Spanish and English affixed to air conditioning units to increase the perception of risk of being caught.

49. Results: Royal Professional Builders Response Began

50. Overall Assessment June 2004 – May 2006 Response Period

51. Contact information: Roberto Santos rsantos@cityofpsl.com Rachel Boba rboba@fau.edu Also see POP Guide: www.popcenter.org