3
The challenges of solving
crime at night
Crime can happen anytime, but according to a recent Genetec
survey, 65% of violent criminal acts occur at night. Another report
titled Crimes at Night: Analyzing Police Incident Reports in Major
Cities, found that incidents such as murders, assaults, robberies, and
DUIs generally peak from 9 pm to 2 am.
For many police officers, investigators, and public safety agents, this
isn't surprising. When most citizens are sound asleep, perpetrators
take advantage to commit illicit acts. Not only does darkness offer
criminals greater anonymity, but there are fewer witnesses around to
catch them in the act. Freed up roadways also help them quickly flee
crime scenes and get out of sight before first responders arrive.
The challenge is that the very things that help criminals get
away — lack of witnesses and information — also make it harder
for investigators to solve cases. In our report, law enforcement
professionals confirmed that there's about a 15% reduction in
clearance rates for nighttime crimes versus daytime offenses. Over
time, this puts more undue pressure on resources that are already
maxed out.
