Pubdate: Wed, 28 July 1999
Source: Tribune, The  (CA)
Copyright: 1999 San Luis Obispo County Newspapers
Contact:  P.O. Box 112, San Luis Obispo, CA 93406-0112
Website: http://www.sanluisobispo.com/
Author: Associated Press

SAN DIEGO CONSIDERS POLICY AGAINST ROUTINELY INVESTIGATING BURGLARIES

SAN DIEGO (AP) - Becky Wyatt awoke about dawn, checked on her children, then
discovered that her television, camcorder, wedding ring, car keys and
minivan were gone.

She did what most would, she called the police. Though they investigated
this time, they may not in the future.

The San Diego police are considering a stop to home burglary investigations
unless there is a known suspect, a compelling lead or extensive evidence.

The move comes on the heels of a study showing that of the 7,000 annual
burglaries in the city, only 12 percent were solved. And few resulted in
arrests and even fewer garnered convictions.

Police Chief Dave Bejarano said resources would be better spent by sending
more officers to neighborhoods where drug are widely sold and used, since
many of the burglars are drug addicts trying to support their habits.

"By having poractive narcotics teams, we will prevent many of these cases
from ever becoming burglaries," said Bejarano, who as a new chief is
evaluating how the department uses its officers.

For six months, San Diego will divert about 18 burglary detectives to three
narcotics investigation teams. If home burglary crimes do not substantially
increase and the teams are successful in making more drug arrests, Bejarano
could make the change permanent.

If so, San Diego would be only one of a few police departments with such a
policy.

The New York City Police Department is considering a similar step after
completing a six-month study of 89,082 burglaries, which resulted in the
arrests of only 142 people after detectives spent 94,784 hours
investigating. Only 12 went to prison.

San Diego Capt. John Magian said officers will still take home burglary
reports by person or phone.

"If somebody violates your home, you deserve to have a police officer
there," he said. "But if somebody breaks into your garage and steals your
barbecue or bicycle, maybe a police officer's time could be better spent
someplace else."

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