Explain two investigative approaches to locating fences.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

1) Once a potential fence is detected, officers work the case, investigating to confirm or exclude such an operation. If confirmed, officers attempt to broaden the case and arrest more than just the offenders in front of them. This often entails both physical and electronic surveillance to identify the places fences work and frequent, and their associates. An undercover officer may then be assigned to begin frequenting these places, covertly gathering additional information and/or attempting to develop a relationship with the fence and his/her associates. This method is also used when active burglars are targeted for arrest and surveillance is initiated. At some point, arrest and search warrants will be issued. When multiple locations and perpetrators are involved, simultaneous raids executing the warrants are conducted simultaneously to prevent offenders from slipping away.
2) In a typical sting, undercover officers set up a legitimate-appearing "front" business in which they slowly develop a reputation as being fences. All transactions are covertly digitally recorded and a great deal of intelligence is gathered that can be used in their current investigation or in collateral ones. Alternatively, officers may do business from a dilapidated warehouse that doesn't even have a name on it.