Property Crimes Section

The Property Crimes Section is staffed by one Lieutenant, two Sergeants, and seven Detectives. This section is primarily responsible for investigating cases of robbery, burglary, auto theft, vandalism, and thefts.

The Lieutenant also coordinates the local Gang Task Force and is the law enforcement liaison to Crime Stoppers of the Sioux Empire, covering Minnehaha and Lincoln Counties.

Both Sergeants have duties beyond supervising Property Crimes Investigators. One Sergeant is an agent of the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force, supervises the Fraud Section, and meets monthly with the local retail security group and state intelligence network. The other Sergeant supervises the pawn and secondhand store regulation and is a member of the department’s Professional Standards Unit.

The Property Crimes Section handles the largest case loads, investigating 5,477 cases in 2008.

Property Crimes cases generally have few witnesses or leads. These Investigators have to use interview and investigative skills to solve crimes. Many times forensic analysis of fingerprints, DNA, or video is needed to make a case. Investigators have to be persistent and  patient as it frequently takes months to get analysis results back. These Investigators put in long hours serving search warrants for stolen property and working over 782 cases per Investigator each year.