Indio, California

Reducing Burglaries with Data-Driven Policing and Community Engagement

Indio Police Badge

Site LE Agency
Indio Police Department

Site Researcher
Robert N. Parker, Ph.D., University of California, Riverside

Site Focus
Residential Burglary

SPI Strategy
Place-based policing

Site Cohort
2010

Site Profile
Small urban area of 29.18 sq. miles with a population of 89,621

Project Overview

The goal of the Indio SPI was to develop a data-driven project to better understand, predict, and reduce burglary patterns in the city. The Indio SPI team compiled four datasets covering up to 10 years of historical data to support analysis of (1) police data on burglary and truancy arrests; (2) probation data; (3) school data on unexcused absences; and (4) census data from 2000 to 2010. Using this data, Indio SPI produced a database to identify trends in residential and commercial burglaries and conducted a mapping analysis that suggested truancy precedes burglary by one to two years in specific locations. The team identified a migration of truancy arrests from the southwest to the northeast side of the city, followed by a similar trend in burglary arrests a few years later.

Methods and Findings

  • Indio SPI’s place-based policing strategy enhanced partnerships and collaboration efforts with local school districts, residents, business owners, homeowners’ associations, and non-profit and faith-based organizations.
  • Indio SPI has hosted over 15 community events and completed the first Parent Project class (22 families participated) in March 2014.
  • In one year, Indio SPI’s targeted burglary reduction outreach efforts resulted in a 44% drop in burglary crime and 11% drop in theft.