In many instances, cases of burglary are unforeseen. However, it is important to take necessary precautions to reduce the possibility of such instances. It is better to be safe than sorry. For the affluent neighborhoods, the probability of violent entry is relatively high compared to other places. Consequently, tough measures should be taken to minimize this risk.
It is important to avoid creating conditions that may tempt a person to engage in burglary. Therefore, one should not leave stuff such as bicycles outside. All efforts should be made to ensure anything that is movable is safely locked in the house. Garages should not be left open at any time, even when there are people around since most cases of burglary are known to be swift (Esicker, 1991). In the event that one is away on vacation, arrangements should be made to ensure that lawns are kept short to avoid creating the perception that there is no one around. Furthermore, an effort should be made to invest in automatic lighting systems especially when one is away (Bleakley, 2012).
On issues of security, one should never sacrifice quality. Investing in quality locks and alarm security systems goes a long way in reducing the instances of burglary as well increasing the probability of a reaction from law enforcement officers (Bleakley, 2012). In an affluent community, it is necessary they organize to have the neighborhood gated as well as hire security professionals to operate the entry and exit points. It will assist in having control of persons that enter and leave the neighborhood, which in turn lowers the probability of cases of burglary. Finally, it is important to form a neighborhood watch as a means of ensuring the safety of each member of the neighborhood (Esicker, 1991).
Guidelines in a Crime Scene
Once a crime occurs, it is important to establish a dimension of the scene (Walker & Wood, 2010). This involves determining the most probable point at which the crime took place. This forms the starting point of an investigation. After that, one should establish security for the scene. It involves cordoning off the area to limit access to persons that might tamper with the evidence. It helps to ensure that probable evidence is safe. Once this is done, a primary survey of the crime scene is undertaken. This helps the investigator prioritize areas within the crime scene that might yield the most probable evidence. It involves ascertaining whether things like windows have been broken or not.
Documenting the scene is then the next step. It is at this stage that thorough investigations take place. It calls for the officer to have specialized tools. The tools include cameras for taking both still and video photographs. Blood collection and fingerprint kits are also important to collect any elements that may lead to a successful investigation (Walker & Wood, 2010). These elements include bloodstains, fibers, seminal stains, fingerprints, and bullet cartridges. After documenting the scene, the officer should then conduct a secondary survey of the crime scene. It helps to ensure that no aspect of the investigation is left unturned. It helps increase the probability of success. Once this is done, the evidence is recorded preserved for safekeeping and prosecution in the case of a successful arrest.
The Case for Increased Funding
The key to deterrence in cases of burglary is having a physical presence of law enforcements officers through frequent patrols. An increase in the frequency of patrols requires more officers to be hired as well as the increase in the number of patrol vehicles and other equipment. A high number of officers and patrol cars also increase the time of response in case of a reported incident.
References
Esicker, D. R. (1991).The Practical Methodology of Forensic Photography. New York, NY: Elsevier.
Walker, P, & A. Wood. (2010). Crime Scene Investigations: Real-Life Science Labs. New York, NY: New York University Press.
Bleakley, Peter.. (2012, Sep. 6). How to defend your home against burglars – the safe way. Retrieved Jun. 20, 2015, from http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/sep/06/defend-your-home-against- burglars
