text: They aren't being used in the right combination, ACfH. First off, these 'base level crimes' are treated as a waste of time by APD. The very ODD thing about this incident is that an officer was even THERE. Considering how often such incidents are ignore by APD, how long it even takes to get a dispatcher on the phone, the fact APD showed up for a 'base level crime' is astounding. That is where you START.
  
  Past that, stop the catch-and-release policing for shoplifting, burglary, breaking into sheds, cars, storage areas. Stolen goods are used to buy drugs. Ramp up enforcement and punishment for those crimes, it will drop. Then target the Dealers for even worse, put some real teeth in taking them down. Makes it harder to get the drugs. Then find where the stolen goods are being stored or fenced, and hammer the merchandisers.
  
  There's more to it of course, but that's a start. At the top is a bullet, which this perp got. The Officer did right, even if his aim was a bit off. More practice!