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intelligence work, crime analysis has a tactical, operational, and a strategic component. The tactical
aspect focuses on immediate issues that are of significance to a police department; operational issues
identify priority areas and potential problems; and the strategic component looks at longer-term
problems that might be solved by either a police department or by agencies such as a city council or
planning department. If these external groups are to be provided with crime-related information, the
analytical task is termed administrative crime analysis. This is an area of crime analysis that is not
directly involved with crime reduction activities but provides support to grant applications, community
relations, and feasibility studies. A further component of crime analysis is criminal investigative analysis,
a lesser-employed aspect of crime analysis that includes activities such as geographic profiling, and
specific case support for investigations.
6

According to the International Association of Crime Analysts (IACA) , crime analysis is defined as the
7
following: A profession and process in which a set of quantitative and qualitative techniques are used to
analyze data valuable to police agencies and their communities. It includes the analysis of crime and
criminals, crime victims, disorder, quality of life issues, traffic issues, and internal police operations, and
its results support criminal investigation and prosecution, patrol activities, crime prevention and
reduction strategies, problem solving, and the evaluation of police efforts. In addition, the IACA defines
crime analysis as all types of analysis performed within a police agency, with the exception of evidence
analysis (e.g., DNA, stolen property), human resources related administrative analysis (e.g., budgeting,
overtime, sick and vacation leave, salary), and analysis of supplies and equipment. Importantly, the IACA
does not distinguish between crime analysis and crime intelligence analysis performed within a police
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organization.

2. The Role of Analyzing Vehicle Crimes.

Regardless of the differences between a criminal intelligence analyst and a crime analyst, the
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International Association of Auto Theft Investigators Auto Theft Prevention Authorities Analyst
Workgroup recognizes the overall goal of a vehicle crimes analyst is to assist in the identification,
interdiction and apprehension of criminals involved with vehicle crimes. Regardless of first
impressions that auto theft is simply a property crime, experienced law enforcement analysts
recognize the theft of a motor vehicle oftentimes involves a multiplicity of criminal activities that
warrant the need for varying levels of analysis, inclusive of both crime and intelligence analysis.

An analyst, regardless of skill level, receives information and is tasked to produce reliable and
actionable information that is usable to the intended customer. The product or information must be
focused on the expectations and needs of the customer, which may direct the type of analysis.
Without analysis, information about an event or situation is just a recording of what happened, which
will not prevent further crime.

6 Boba, R. 2005. Crime Analysis and Crime Mapping. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage; Integrated Intelligence and Crime
Analysis: Enhanced Information Management for Law Enforcement Leaders, Jerry H. Ratcliffe, Ph.D., Second Edition,
Police Foundation, Community Oriented Policing Services, U.S. Department of Justice, ISBN 978-188461421-7, August
2007, pp 14.
7 https://it.ojp.gov/AT/
8 Overview of Crime Analysis, International Association of Crime Analysts, 2017,
https://it.ojp.gov/AT/Documents/OverviewofCrimeAnalysis.pdf
9 https://www.iaati.org/
10 https://combatautotheft.org/Articles_Media.html