Addressing Property Crime: Webinar Recap

As property crime patterns evolve and agencies face mounting resource constraints, law enforcement leaders seek innovative crime prevention approaches. In a recent webinar, Brittany Urban, Director of Analytic Solutions at SoundThinking, and Hailey Mendoza, Crime Analyst at Ocoee Police Department, shared insights on using data-driven patrol management to address these challenges.

Evolving Trends in Property Crime

While national property crime rates are declining, many communities face persistent challenges obscured by underreporting and limited resources. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated demographic shifts, with populations moving from metropolitan areas to smaller cities, straining infrastructure and resources. Communities experiencing new construction and development are particularly vulnerable to property crime.

These shifts have fueled significant changes in crime patterns. Vehicle-related offenses have increased, with motor vehicle thefts, catalytic converter thefts, and thefts from parked vehicles becoming more prevalent, particularly involving juveniles during after-school hours and summer months. Retail crime has evolved into more organized operations, while “porch piracy” continues to surge alongside the growth of online shopping, especially during the holiday season. Construction sites have emerged as prime targets, with thieves focusing on high-value materials and appliances, leading to losses totaling tens of thousands of dollars in some cases. These trends underscore the need for data-driven strategies that enable law enforcement to adapt and respond effectively.

The Data-Driven Solution

Addressing these evolving threats requires innovative, data-driven strategies that empower law enforcement to respond effectively. Property crime prevention depends on three critical components working in concert. Officers need immediate access to relevant data and intelligence in the field, enabling them to respond proactively to emerging threats and risks. Patrol observations must be systematically converted into actionable intelligence to inform future crime prevention strategies. Additionally, command staff require robust tools to track patrol efficiency, measure impact, and optimize resource allocation—capabilities that have become essential amid staffing shortages and increasing service demands.

Inside ResourceRouter: Comprehensive Patrol Management

ResourceRouter revolutionizes patrol management with a unified, data-driven approach to property crime prevention. By combining historical crime data with real-time risk assessments, the system ensures deployments are optimized to address each agency’s unique challenges and priorities. It automates patrol planning for all Part 1 crimes—serious offenses like burglary, motor vehicle theft, and robbery—across an entire jurisdiction daily, ensuring patrol officers are directed to the highest-risk areas at the right times.

Example of the type of patrol information available in ResourceRouter.

Key features of ResourceRouter include: 

• Ad Hoc Patrol Zones: Create targeted patrol zones to address specific challenges, such as construction site theft or seasonal crime surges.
• Integrated Mapping Tools: Provide officers with real-time overlays and actionable intelligence, enhancing situational awareness in the field.
• Automated Reporting: Empower command staff to evaluate patrol efficiency, refine strategies, and communicate measurable results to stakeholders.
• Transparent Technology: Leverage location-based crime data and objective environmental factors to ensure unbiased patrol management, excluding personal data.

ResourceRouter also extends beyond traditional patrol management by supporting initiatives like Community Connections events, which use crime data to identify high-risk areas and deliver critical resources. These events provide services such as neighborhood clean-up, healthcare access, and mentorship programs, directly addressing residents’ needs and strengthening public engagement.

A picture from the Memorial Health booth at a Community Connections event in Springfield, IL.

Proven Results Across Jurisdictions

ResourceRouter has delivered impactful results across various agencies, showcasing its versatility in addressing diverse challenges. Key successes include:

• Avocado Theft in Miami-Dade County: Using farmland and property ownership maps, ResourceRouter guided targeted patrols to safeguard agricultural assets from organized theft operations.
• Firearm Recovery in Miami-Dade County: Ahead of Thanksgiving, ad hoc patrol zones enabled officers to recover 32 firearms during a single operation, showcasing the system’s effectiveness in high-risk scenarios.
• Blue Book Program in South Bend, Indiana: ResourceRouter automated retail patrols, improving theft prevention and fostering accountability in high-traffic commercial areas.
• Community Connections Events: By identifying high-risk areas, ResourceRouter has facilitated outreach initiatives, such as car seat installations, job service events, and neighborhood clean-ups, building trust and enhancing safety in targeted communities.

Spotlight: Ocoee Police Department

In Florida, the Ocoee Police Department leveraged ResourceRouter to address over $70,000 in thefts at a townhome construction site. By deploying ad hoc patrol zones, officers prevented thefts and verified the legitimacy of appliance deliveries—addressing common tactics used by thieves.

ResourceRouter’s accountability and tracking capabilities further supported these efforts. Command staff generated detailed reports documenting patrol frequency and coverage, ensuring consistent monitoring of high-risk areas. This data not only measured the program’s effectiveness but also reinforced the department’s commitment to proactive community safety measures.

Beyond crime prevention, Ocoee enhanced community engagement through its “watch order” program, allowing residents to request additional patrols during extended absences. This initiative deterred crimes such as home burglaries and vehicle thefts, reinforcing public confidence in law enforcement’s ability to protect residents proactively.

Conclusion

As property crime evolves, law enforcement must balance rising safety demands with limited resources. ResourceRouter equips agencies with data-driven tools to strategically deploy resources, prevent crime proactively, and build community trust. Success stories from agencies like Ocoee and Miami-Dade highlight its tangible impact, from preventing thefts to fostering engagement. With advancements like AI-driven analytics and seamless technology integrations, ResourceRouter continues to transform proactive policing and set the standard for future public safety innovations.

Watch the On-Demand Webinar