This document summarizes research on car theft in San Antonio from October to December 2013. The research included two surveys. Part I was a multiple choice survey that found most thefts occurred during morning and afternoon hours and involved trucks and SUVs. Part II used a Likert scale and found public education, schedules/locations, and funding were viewed as inadequate, while police staffing and utilization of resources were viewed as balanced. The results imply areas like education, locations, and funding allocation could be improved. Future research should narrow the area studied and involve personnel earlier in the survey design process.

1. Kirsten Coombs, Charles James, Rebecca Sanchez,
Andysheh Smith, Doug Smith
QNT/561
March 24, 2014
Dr. Johnnie Spraggins
Dude, Where’s My Car?
(Research Plan)

2. Survey: Part I1

3. Survey: Part II

4. “Quantitative analysis of the security risks that enable organizations
to introduce optimum security solutions.”2
“Qualitative data cannot be measured on a natural numerical scale;
they can only be classified into categories.”3
“The Likert scale has many advantages that account for its
popularity. It is easy and quick to construct.”4
Rationale for Survey Types

5. Stolen Cars by the Hour:
October – December 2013
0
5
10
15
20
25
0:00 1:00 2:00 3:00 4:00 5:00 6:00 7:00 8:00 9:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 23:00
Reported Stolen Vehicles by Time
(Source: SAPD Q4 2013)
October November December

6. Top times for Vehicles
Reported Stolen
October November December
8AM – 7 cars
11AM – 7 cars
2PM – 9 cars
3PM – 11 cars
4PM – 12 cars
2AM – 8 cars
10AM – 10 cars
11AM – 7 cars
6PM – 7 cars
10PM – 7 cars
8AM – 7 cars
1PM – 10 cars
4PM – 6 cars
9PM – 7 cars
10PM – 7 cars

7. Most frequent time of day for downtown auto thefts:
Early morning and afternoons are the most
Generalized population sample:
Reports from 78204, 78205 and 78206
Cars stolen per hour between October and November: 4
Number of cars stolen in Q4 2013: 281
Peak time car has been stolen:
October: 2:18PM November: 1:54PM December: 12:54PM
Results’ Implications for SAPD

8. Part I of Survey – Multiple Choice
and Fill-in-the-Blank
1. Zip Code of last vehicle theft: 78204: 28.5% 78205: 43% 78206: 28.5%
2. Theft in progress or call from victim: In Progress: 46.7% Victim Call: 53.3%
3. Response Time of Day: 0100-0359: 40% 0600-0859: 26.7%
1200-1359: 13.3% 1800-1859: 6.7%
2100-2259: 13.3%
4. Number of Responses Monthly: 1-5: 21% 6-10: 36% 11-15: 21%
16-20: 15% 20+: 7%
5 & 6: Most stolen vehicle: Large Trucks/SUVs: 57% (Ford F150)
Smaller Vehicles: 43% (Honda Civic)
7. Theft Prevention: Install Alarm: 33% Lock Doors: 20%
Neighborhood Watch: 14% Others: 33% (All different)

9. Multiple Choice and Fill-in-the-Blank –
Justification for Questions
Questions 1 and 2: Zip Code of last vehicle theft and type of report:
 First questions – Simple Multiple Choice to warm up to participant
Question 3: Response Time of Day:
 Main Question – Heart of the problem statement
 Asked only after trust earned from first two simple questions
Question 4: Number of Responses Monthly:
 Multiple Choice – 5 Options (Slightly more difficult than first two questions)
 Another trust-building question that also keeps the participants’ attention:
Questions 5 & 6: Most stolen vehicle
 Another key question: Make and model with highest theft risk
 Leads into theft prevention by creating an image and relating to crime
Question 7: Theft Prevention for Civilians:
 Sense of Value and importance to public
 Building further rapport in preparation of Likert Scale that follows

10. Time of day most vehicles are stolen can reveal when patrols may
need to be increased
 Raises awareness to the department
 Helps to reduce crime and raise public’s trust in SAPD
 SAPD’s superior reputation may attract the best and brightest recruits
Knowledge of makes and models with the highest risk of theft may:
 Inform the public that additional preventive measures should be taken
for vehicles identified as high risk
 Build trust and positive relationships with San Antonio community
 Strengthens SAPD’s mission of its dedication to “improve quality of life
by creating a safe environment” (City of San Antonio, 2013) for the
citizens of San Antonio
Part I Results’ Implications for SAPD

11. Part II of Survey – Likert Scale
Are the following adequate in regard to car theft?
a. Public education: SA1 A4 N2 D5 SD3
b. Police staffing: SA0 A7 N1 D4 SD3
c. Funding: SA0 A6 N3 D1 SD5
d. Schedules, Locations: SA0 A5 N3 D6 SD2
e. Technology (cameras) SA5 A6 N1 D2 SD1
f. Appropriate Utilization: SA0 A10 N1 D3 SD1
g. Individuals: SA4 A7 N1 D2 SD1
h. Organized Crime: SA5 A5 N3 D1 SD1
*Key: SA – Strongly Agree; A – Agree; N – Neither; D – Disagree; SD – Strongly Disagree

12. Rationale for Likert Scale Questions
 Original Premise: Car thefts increase in relation to number of
patrols; technology is cheaper than adding staff.
 Junior officer preliminary survey: Narrow focus, address
hypothesis and if other activities could achieve desired
results:
a. Increased public awareness campaign and advertising
c. Funding inappropriately allocated to other efforts.
d. All staff appropriately allocated (i.e., risky assignments ,
rotating shifts assigned with problem in mind).
f. Other resources utilized appropriately (i.e., training staff and
budget, bikes, foot patrol, patrol vehicles, patrol, on-person
cameras, performance improvement teams, etc…)
g., h. Demographics vs. Organized Crime. Should city dedicate
resources to relieving addiction, poverty, homeless and transient
populations.

13. Results’ Implications for SAPD
Primarily central tendency responses, equal number of “Agree” or “Disagree”
Exceptions:
 Public education - inadequate
 Police staffing - balanced
 Funding - balanced
 Schedules, Locations - inappropriate
 Technology - inadequate
 Appropriate utilization of other - appropriate
 Demographics - strong correlation
 Organized Crime - strong correlation
-Conclusion: Further research needed to identify appropriate focus on areas
identified.
-Would reverse Part I & II: place Likert first, then free-response questions.

14. OVERALL PICTURE
Cars are being stolen
During the day more cars are being stolen
Is there anything more police officers can be doing?
Is there anything more civilians can be doing?
Is the surrounding area and crimes have a factor
in car theft?

15. Research Results and Challenges
It showed that car theft happens all day but more
often during the day
Car theft is always adjusting and progressing with newer
cars
Too much area to research takes time and lots of data

16. Recommended Steps
for Future Research
 Narrow the area down to a neighborhood or zip code
 Start research earlier
 Have personnel to give the survey to before making up the
survey

17. Reference Page
1. City of San Antonio. (2013). San Antonio Police Department.
Retrieved from
http://www.sanantonio.gov/SAPD/MissionStatement.aspx
2. Bojanc, R., & Jerman-Blažič, B. (2013). A Quantitative Model for
Information-Security Risk Management. Engineering
Management Journal, 25(2), 25-37.
3. McClave, J. T., Benson, P. G., & Sincich, T. (2011). Statistics for
business and economics. Boston: Prentice Hall.
4. Cooper, D. R., & Schindler, P. S. (2011). Chapter 12. Measurement
Scales. In Business research methods (11th ed., p. 301). New
York: McGraw-Hill/Irwin.

18. Questions or Comments?