Preventing Burglary. How To ?

Sorry I haven't got back to you on this thread. In patrol I did the initial investigation, called the evidence guys, and then passed it up to the Detectives. On occasion I would get lucky and catch them during an in progress call, or even a lucky "on view" pinch when I'd just be patrolling and just have the pinch fall into my lap. Once I took down an entire crew with just a car stop where the car was loaded with stolen merch.

I know on occasion we'd get lucky and hit on a print taken from the domicile but that alone could only prove they were in the house. It would however give grounds for a search warrant and an arrest. This is stuff the Detectives generally do but I have been called to assist them. My guess is untraceable gold, silver, numismatics, are probably bought by pawn and coin shops or traded for drugs from a drug dealer who then does the same. I know records have to be kept but how can you prove its stolen ?

Its why on the initial case report I record as much detail as I can about the property taken.

The actual recovery rate is not good I can tell you that much. But Chicago is awash with crime and other jurisdictions may have better luck. Drug use and burglary are almost always linked. I worked part time at a methadone clinic and it was like a "whose who" of the area's burglars and retail thieves.

With all the restrictions on the Police nowadays its just going to get worse and worse. I wish I had better news to tell you.