|
(L.E.A.D.S.ONLINE CLIENT - PIMA COUNTY, AZ SHERIFF'S DEPT.)
Net helping solve property crimes
Pima County sheriff's detectives are using Web-based technology to help solve property crimes faster.
This month, the department started using a service called Leads Online that allows pawn-slip information to be uploaded to the Internet.
The Sheriff's Department is the only law enforcement agency in Arizona using the system, which includes 288 agencies nationwide.
The program costs about $1,300 a month for the department and is free to business owners.
The Tucson Police Department uses a similar system.
Twenty-five stores in Arizona currently participate in the Leads Online system, but all pawnshops and secondhand stores in the sheriff's jurisdiction likely will be required to participate, said Cooper Smith, a spokesman for the Dallas-based company.
Stolen property often is sold at such stores.
Detectives can search the database for information about goods and people nationwide. Detailed facts about stolen property can be entered, too, and the program will match the information to similar items that have been pawned.
The system will save time and money for stores, too, said Patrick McGlone, a jeweler and manager at Discount Jewelers & Pawnbrokers, 3939 N. First Ave.
In the past, stores would mail in a police ticket for every item that came to the store, he said.
"This way it's instant, and you don't have to punch in info all day long," McGlone said.
"It should be pretty efficient."
His store plans to start using the system during a test period in January, he said.
All content copyright © 1999-2004 AzStarNet, Arizona Daily Star and its wire services and suppliers and may not be republished without permission. All rights reserved. Any copying, redistribution, or retransmission of any of the contents of this service without the expressed written consent of Arizona Daily Star or AzStarNet is prohibited.
|
