Attention - increased risk of burglary!

A push message was sent via the Kapo app on August 4: "There is currently an increased risk of burglary in Nussbaumen (municipality of Obersiggenthal). The Aargau cantonal police urge special vigilance." How does the Kapo know that, at the beginning of August of all times, there are probably more thieves at work in this area? Are they all clairvoyants at the Kapo? No, this is made possible by the analysis software "Pre Crime Observation System" (Precobs). Other police forces are already working with the forecasting tool, such as the Stapo Zurich, which has had good experience with it for over a year.

It does not work without input

The tool must be fed with as much crime data as possible, because "Precobs" cannot analyze anything without input. In this way, the software does nothing other than any experienced police officer, according to the Zurich police department. The only difference is that the tool can process much more data much faster.

For the data feed, the police are dependent on the assistance of the population: In addition to all detected burglaries, suspicious persons and vehicles in a certain area should also be reported immediately via emergency call 117, as it says on the website of Kapo Aargau.

Increase awareness

In Aargau, the aim is to increasingly disseminate warnings to raise awareness among the population, especially in the case of recognizable series or crime phenomena. This is done not only via app, but also Facebook. In addition, the region's media will be served with map sections showing where increased vigilance is required. For residents, this means that they should, for example, increasingly close their windows. Because: In four out of eight residential burglaries that have occurred in Oftringen recently, the perpetrators entered through open or tilted windows, as Kapo Aargau told the "NZZ".   (rs)