property crimes

financial crimes Unit

MISSION:  The mission of the Anchorage Police Department Financial Crimes Unit is to reduce and prevent economic loss to the citizens of Anchorage through the recovery of stolen property, identification, and apprehension of suspects, and to assist with the criminal prosecution of defendants charged with financial crimes.  It is also the goal of the Financial Crimes Unit to work with businesses and financial institutions in the community to reduce and prevent financial crimes through the coordination of resources and education to the public.

TYPES OF CRIMES:  Fraud, Forgery, Counterfeit, Embezzlement, Credit Card Fraud, Issuing a Bad Check, Identity Theft, Scheme to Defraud, Theft, Fraudulent Use Of An Access Device/Identification Document, Misconduct Involving Public Officials, Falsifying Business Records, Offering a False Instrument For Recording, Criminal Use of a Computer.

AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY:  The Financial Crimes Unit is primarily involved in the investigation of crimes related to forgery, issuing bad checks, counterfeit check fraud, fraudulent use of access devices, and theft as it relates to embezzlement. To a lesser extent the Financial Crimes Unit also investigates complaints of consumer fraud, computer fraud, misconduct involving public officials, ID theft, counterfeiting currency, and prescription drug forgery. The Financial Crimes Unit is increasingly seeing instances of elder fraud involving the above-mentioned crimes.

Financial Crimes Unit detectives may also be called upon to assist in investigations with other detective units where financial expertise is needed. Cases including but not limited to homicide, missing persons, drug investigations, and internal affairs investigations often have a financial component.

DETECTIVES ASSIGNED:  There are 4 detectives assigned to this unit.

CASE PROCESS:  All initial felony-level police reports (online, called in, direct to officer) are screened by the unit supervisor.  If/when a detective is available and the case meets the triage standards, the case is assigned to a detective.  The detective will then prioritize and begin working on the case as soon as possible. During the investigation, detectives will contact victims, witnesses, and suspects.  For some cases, there may be a significant delay due to a variety of reasons (vacation, illness, waiting for search warrant results, etc.).  Cases may not be assigned for a variety of reasons including personnel availability, no viable suspect, lack of cooperation of involved parties, etc. 

theft unit

MISSION:  The mission of the Anchorage Police Department Theft Unit is to reduce and prevent economic loss to the citizens of Anchorage through the recovery of stolen property; identification and apprehension of suspects and assisting with criminal prosecution of a defendant charged with theft-related crimes.  This includes, but is not limited to property theft, vehicle theft, criminal mischief, misconduct involving weapons, and crimes related to those listed.

TYPES OF CRIMES:  Felony Theft, Felony Criminal Mischief, Vehicle Theft, Felony Vandalism, Misconduct Involving Weapons.

AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY:  The Theft Unit is primarily involved in the investigation of felony crimes related to theft, auto theft, criminal mischief, misconduct involving weapons.  The Theft Section also investigates cases that are specially assigned by the Chief of Police and/or the Chain of Command of the Anchorage Police Department Detective Division.

DETECTIVES ASSIGNED:  There are five detectives assigned to this unit.

CASE PROCESS:  All initial felony-level police reports (online, called in, direct to officer) are screened by the unit supervisor.  If/when a detective is available and the case meets the triage standards, the case is assigned to a detective.  The detective will then prioritize and begin working on the case as soon as possible. During the investigation, detectives will contact victims, witnesses, and suspects.  For some cases, there may be a significant delay due to a variety of reasons (vacation, illness, waiting for search warrant results, etc.).  Cases may not be assigned for a variety of reasons including personnel availability, no viable suspect, lack of cooperation of involved parties, etc. 

burglary unit

MISSION: The mission of the Anchorage Police Department Burglary Unit is to provide investigative services aimed at controlling burglary-related crimes through the recovery of stolen property, identification, surveillance, and apprehension of suspects, and assisting with criminal prosecution of defendants charged with the crime of burglary and related offenses.

TYPES OF CRIMES: The Burglary Unit conducts a criminal investigation into the crimes of burglary, felony-level criminal mischief, felony vandalism, and arson that only incur property damage.

AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY: The Burglary Unit is primarily involved in the criminal investigation of burglaries to businesses and residences and related felony-level criminal offenses.  Additionally, the Burglary Unit also investigates cases that are specially assigned by the chief of police and/or the chain of command of the APD Detective Division.

DETECTIVES ASSIGNED: There are currently five detectives assigned to the Burglary Unit.

CASE PROCESS: The initial crime is reported.  This is likely taken by a Patrol Officer (there are some limited exceptions where certain crimes that the unit will investigate can be reported online).  Officers will attempt to contact victims, witnesses, and known suspects if possible, as well as collect any available evidence and a list of items stolen or damaged during the incident.  Victims can contact the officer, APD Records or file an online report to add information on additional stolen items.

All Burglaries and felony-level arson, vandalism, and criminal mischief cases are screened by the unit supervisor.  If the case meets the unit’s triage standards (which includes criteria such as viable physical evidence available, reliable witness testimony, etc.) the case will be assigned to a detective.  The detective prioritizes the case with consideration to the current caseload and begins working on it and contacting victims, witnesses, and suspects as soon as possible. They will also attempt to gather additional physical evidence.  Depending on the individual circumstances of the case, this process could take quite a while. In addition, other factors such as vacation time, illness, lab processing wait times, and record requests can impact the time it takes to investigate a crime.

While the Anchorage Police Department would like to investigate every case that comes to the Burglary Unit, not all cases will get assigned.  Circumstances, such as personnel availability, no viable investigatory leads, and or uncooperative parties will affect case assignment.      

Frequently Asked Questions

+ how can I get my property back?

All property seized as evidence or under a search warrant needs to be retained until the conclusion of the case, unless released through the prosecuting agency.

+ What can I do to help the police locate and recover my stolen property?

The best thing you can do is to make sure you turn in a comprehensive list (including serial numbers, photos of unique items such as jewelry and art, and detailed descriptions) of the stolen items. The list of items can be given to the responding investigating officer, turned in online with the initial report or as a supplement to the original report by contacting the APD Records section, (907) 786-8801.

The Pawn Unit of the Anchorage Police Department works closely with the Burglary, Theft, Financial Crimes, and other units at the department.

TYPES OF CRIMES: The Pawn Unit is responsible for investigating criminal offenses related to pawnshops and scrap and precious metal businesses.  It is also responsible for ensuring that these types of businesses operating within the Municipality of Anchorage comply with relevant state statutes and municipal ordinances and is responsible for enforcing these statutes and ordinances. 

AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY: The Pawn Unit is supervised by the burglary sergeant and is primarily involved in the criminal investigation of pawn, scrap metal, and precious metal cases where stolen property has been located at these businesses.  The Pawn Unit also assists citizens, officers, and detectives with pawn and scrap/precious metal business-related inquiries of an enforcement nature, as well as works to recover stolen property found at these businesses.  

PERSONNEL ASSIGNED: Currently 1 detective and 1 clerk make up the Pawn Unit

CASE PROCESS: By law, pawn shops report items that they buy and sell into a nationwide database.  The Pawn Unit can search this database, and other data resources, to locate stolen property and initiate criminal investigations.  Citizens that can provide detailed information about their stolen property, such as serial numbers, identifying features and/or photographs can be very helpful in locating and recovering property that has passed through these business entities.  The Pawn Clerk conducts research and support functions for these investigations while the Pawn Detective conducts the criminal investigations.  

Citizens who suspect that their stolen property is at a pawn shop should contact the Pawn Unit and will be provided with information on the investigation and recovery process.  This is a very small unit (only two employees) and there may be delays in response and investigatory efforts due to caseload, employee vacation and illness and information requests to the pawn and scrap/precious metal businesses.  The Detective will prioritize the case with consideration to their current caseload and begin working it as soon as feasible.  The Detective will contact victims, witnesses, and suspects as soon as they can.  They will also attempt to gather additional physical evidence.  Depending on the individual circumstances of the case, this process could take an extended amount of time. 

While the Anchorage Police Department would like to investigate every case that comes to the Pawn Unit, not all cases will get the desired outcome of making arrests and recovering stolen property.  Circumstances, such as personnel unavailability, no viable investigatory leads and/or uncooperative parties will affect investigative efforts.

Municipal & State Legal Governance: Municipal AMC 10.20.025-.037; State AS 08.76 and 12 AAC 76