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Computers in the Cop Car

Impact of the Mobile Digital Terminal Technology on Motor Vehicle Theft Clearance and Recovery Rates in a Texas City

University of North Texas

As computer technologies continue to evolve, more attention should be directed to an evaluation of technologies used in police agencies. One is the mobile digital terminal (MDT)—the "computer in a cop car." Using MDTs, patrol officers communicate directly with remote crime information data bases. Proponents argue MDTs help officers increase incident clearance rates and help recover stolen property. An opportunity to evaluate use of MDTs exists in Fort Worth, Texas. The police department implemented an MDT system in 1985, arguing MDTs would improve crime-fighting capabilities, particularly in vehicle theft clearances and recoveries. An interrupted time series design is used to assess the extent to which this has occurred Implemen tation of MDTs is treated as the intervention, and an analysis of clearance and recovery rates before and after intervention is conducted. Datafrom monthly reports of motor vehicle thefts, clearances, and recovery rates from 1980 to 1990 are examined, modeled using ARIMA or regression analysis, and fitted with an intervention component to determine if there was a significant change in the seriesfollowing implementation of the MDT technology. Little evidence is found to support a conclusion that MDTs had a significant impact on auto theft clearances. Recoveries were affected slightly, but only in terms of the postintervention trend. Other factors may be equally important in recovering stolen vehicles.

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