Danish Cops Recruit Robbers To Stem Burglaries

COPENHAGEN, Denmark -- What to do when burglaries get out of hand?

In Denmark, police think they might have the answer: Turn to the experts themselves, the housebreakers.

Northern Zealand police spokesman Finn Bernth Andersen says burglars caught red-handed in the district will be asked to participate in an anonymous questionnaire about their profession.

The region, which has seen a 60 percent annual surge in break-ins in some areas, will ask robbers questions about their typical targets, motives and disposal methods for stolen goods.

Bernth Andersen conceded that police are not sure of the project's success but said Thursday "we'll do anything we can to lower the number (of burglaries)."

The project is planned to last a few months.

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Comments

[plepgeat]

04:18 AM on 02/23/2012

Robbers don't commit burglaries - burglars commit burglaries. If you decide to hire a copy editor, drop me a line.

[Susan Shaffer]

12:30 AM on 02/20/2012

nah, tshirts work much better

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVQ8qcocoG0&feature=fvst

and when that doesn't work give them tickets

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vv4col1NoRg&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMZ0R-RPH_Y&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFzNxncSf7o

[Comicoffee]

11:33 AM on 02/19/2012

This isn't at all surprising--the Danish criminal justice system is very rehabilitation-focused rather than punishment-focused (I lived in Denmark for a year, studying criminal justice. The differences between their system and the US is pretty remarkable). Upon release from prison, many or most inmates have a place to stay and a job waiting for them, so that they can immediately get back to participating in society. The recidivism rate is also quite low.

[stjoshy]

01:33 PM on 02/19/2012

^pretty remarkable... or pretty denmarkable? ... *sits back with sense of accomplishment*

[Terri Skau]

01:55 PM on 02/19/2012

Well you never read your messages and I must go. I'll be on later. ;-)

[Comicoffee]

10:49 PM on 02/19/2012

Nice one!

[Reality always bites]

03:13 PM on 02/20/2012

And there was I waiting for the hefty dose of sarcasm! let me down again Comicoffee!

[Comicoffee]

07:04 PM on 02/20/2012

Mom? Is that you?

[jacmed]

03:05 PM on 02/18/2012

What's so unusual about this? Convicted hackers are recruited by the government and large corporations to write hacker-proof computer programs. And what about Frank William Abagnale Jr - you know, the guy about whom the movie "Catch Me If You Can" was made? The FBI recruited him because he was an expert on check forgery. If you haven't seen the movie, BTW, see it; it's fictionalized a bit for entertainment purposes but is very enjoyable. However, IMHO, the book Mr. Abagnale wrote is better - it explains a lot that the movie didn't explain.

[cuoi]

12:20 PM on 02/18/2012

Reading headlines Ithought "Danish" cops were the effete branch of the he-man "Donut" cops...

[Comicoffee]

07:08 PM on 02/20/2012

In Denmark, Danish pastries are called "wienerbrod" (translation: Vienna bread. Apparently the Danish actually comes from Austria).

[cuoi]

08:22 PM on 02/20/2012

So, wienerschnitzel means Vienna schnitzel? And what exactly is a schnitzel?

[sdave]

08:52 AM on 02/17/2012

Makes sense to me....some cities in America have "Operation Street Corner" where they use former incarcerated drug dealers to spot homes where that is going on.....if it takes drugs and thugs off the streets, I am OK with it....

[psandysdad]

07:59 AM on 02/17/2012

Who better to ask about crime than criminals? Kevin Mitnick, once the most wanted hacker in the world, is now a well-paid cyber security consultant.

Incidentally his recent book 'Ghost in the Wires' is an excellent read if you're in to this sort of thing.

[bridgeman]

05:23 AM on 02/17/2012

"takes one to know one" or is it "the crime leading the crime"?

HA!

[LouGots]

05:11 AM on 02/17/2012

Robbery: larceny from the person or presence of another by force or threat of force.

Burglary: entering the dwelling of another with the intent to commit a crime therein.

Get it straight.

[plepgeat]

04:20 AM on 02/23/2012

Glad I'm not the only one aggravated by this headline!

[Norge]

02:21 AM on 02/17/2012

Good Idea. Ask and receive the help of the experts which will in turn help build their own self esteem,
self respect and dignity and more than likely change their own lives and fill that empty place within which they try to fill with objects stolen from others. Perhaps in their own lives they feel much had been stolen from them.

[jacmed]

03:09 PM on 02/18/2012

Good insight, Norge. That's exactly what the situation was with Frank William Abagnale Jr, only it wasn't objects with him - it was check forgery that enabled him to become somebody else. If you haven't seen the movie or read the book "Catch Me If You Can," I advise both. Movie first, then book to clarify the movie and eliminate some of the fictionalized parts of the movie that were put there for entertainment value.

[Norge]

07:15 PM on 02/18/2012

jacmed,

Thank you and yes I will make an effort to view the film. It is interesting stuff.

Norge