A Study of Criminal Patterns in Pigeon Theft and Extortion and Police Investigation Strategies

• Main Authors: Fan,Yu-Yuan, 范育源
• Other Authors: Dr. Sheu, Chuen-Jim
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2014
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/14076385865323257549

碩士 === 國立臺北大學 === 犯罪學研究所 === 102 === The purpose of this study is to understand the criminal behavior of pigeon burglary and establish protocol and actions during the inspection process of police to improve police ability in investigating cases of pigeon burglary. Pigeon burglary cases have been occurring on a regular basis in Taiwan and up until now, there have been no effective strategies to suppress pigeon burglary and ransom. Pigeon burglary and ransom is a crime that entails burglary, threatening for financial gain, unlawful possession, and damages. The public has suffered large monetary damages and this crime has derived many related major criminal behavior and has attracted the attention of the highest supervising departments, local leaders, and the police. Reliance on improved investigation is the only solution that can suppress the problem. This study uses qualitative research and interviews as a primary method and police arrest records as a supplement along with media reports as secondary data; using these sources of data and analysis of in-depth interviews with investigators, the study will seek to understand the criminal behavior in pigeon burglary and ransom cases for the improvement of police investigative behavior. The study will focus on the interview of four experienced members of police investigators to form an in-depth analysis of pigeon burglary and ransom criminal behavior along with police investigative methods for the organization of records. The study found that there are three main circumstances in the criminal behavior of pigeon burglary and ransom cases: 1) personal crime: one criminal commits the crime and completes all criminal activity. 2) Organizational crime: a profession leader cases the scene, chooses a location then assigns tasks such as lookout, setting up a capture net, middle net removal, race pigeon guard, criminal tools of collecting dummy accounts with ATM cards, making the ransom call, and getaway driver. After the crime, the ransom is divided among the group. 3) Pure pigeon burglary: the criminal is solely in charge of stealing the pigeon and all ransom or threatening is given to other individuals or organizations to complete. The criminal only partakes in the burglary of the pigeon and no later activities; the criminal is paid immediately following the burglary. The interviews uncovered that investigative actions include 1) civilian reporting of the crime, 2) public department, hiking association, pigeon racing association reporting of the crime, and 3) police initiative in investigation: crime scene investigation includes three effective methods of investigation that are 1) crime scene arrest, 2) segmented arrest, and 3) intercept arrest. The study suggests taking all possible elements of suppressing this type of criminal activity into consideration to propose viable suggestions as below: 1) improve public education and encourage victims to report cases. 2) Establish a standard operating procedure for pigeon burglary and ransom cases. 3) Telecom and financial institutions should have stricter application approval mechanisms. 4) Interactive with the public to work with civilians, local groups, and government departments to collect information. 5) Improve policing ability by establishing tasks groups specializing in pigeon burglary and ransom. 6) Increase punishment and amend laws to reclaim illegal criminal gains and damages. This study concludes that establishing a standard operating procedure will focus investigations of pigeon burglary and ransom and offers this information for reference to police offers currently serving and working on pigeon burglary and ransom cases; this can improve police investigative abilities and this information is provided to investigative departments as suggestion for reference in future discussion and establishment of criminal policy.