MassMostWanted: an online tool for law enforcement.

Since early 2002, a partnership has existed between the banking and law enforcement communities of Massachusetts. The Bank Robbery Working Group, consisting of Massachusetts Bankers Association (MBA) executives and bank security officers joined by representatives from the FBI, Massachusetts State Police, Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association, and the Boston and Wellesley Police Departments, has explored ways to prevent bank robberies and apprehend subjects responsible for committing these crimes in the state.

The effectiveness of the working group is evidenced, in part, by the centerpiece of its efforts, www.MassMostWanted.org. This easy-to-use Web site provides a central source of information pertaining to subjects and their crimes and serves the community as a whole--from the uniformed police officer to the civilian who may recognize someone on the street from a picture posted on the site.

The Web Site

Because many bank robbers are serial offenders, catching them after the first or second robbery serves as a primary goal of law enforcement agencies, as this prevents future occurrences. Many of these individuals become photographed, so officers who disseminate the pictures widely enough often learn the identities of subjects and capture them.

Before computer use became common, investigators mailed photographs to counterparts in other jurisdictions or traveled to show the pictures in person. Facsimile machines allowed officers to distribute images widely, but the quality of the pictures suffered.

Upon the arrival of the Internet, investigators began scanning photographs and e-mailing them to other officers. As more banks updated their surveillance cameras by installing digital systems, this process became easier and more effective. Unfortunately, only people on the e-mail lists received these pictures.

The working group recognized the need for a Web-based solution that served the entire state. Four officers from the Wellesley and Westwood Police Departments designed MassMostWanted, an easy-to-use Web site with an easy-to-remember name, for law enforcement and the general public. While bank robberies generally make up a large portion of the cases posted on MassMostWanted, the site also features crimes, such as fraud, assault, and other types of thefts.

Each page of MassMostWanted features 15 thumbnail photographs of criminals caught in the act by surveillance cameras. By clicking on each image, the user can view the "case page," which includes a larger version of the picture, any available additional images, a description of the offense (including date, time, and location), and the name and telephone number of the investigator. A "tool box" on the screen allows the viewer to e-mail a tip to the officer or send the page to a friend. Investigators update the case status when they obtain a subject's identity; out of concern that criminals can check the site, authorities normally do not add this information until they have the individual in custody. In one instance, officers did not even have to identify a subject; after seeing his picture on MassMostWanted, the individual became frightened and turned himself in, even bringing the money with him.

Recent upgrades include new search and data collection capabilities. Users now can navigate MassMostWanted's numerous cases according to desired criteria. For instance, an officer investigating a bank robbery can browse by gender, complexion, and type of crime. Further, civilians can search the site for occurrences in their own cities.

Users also can subscribe to a newsletter--an e-mail containing cases added since the previous edition; this feature allows recipients to stay abreast of investigations posted on the site without even logging on. However, because MassMostWanted requires little time to browse, many people prefer to check the site for updates. Often, law enforcement officers and bank security officials set it as their home page.

Law enforcement personnel investigating bank robberies rely on MassMostWanted as a standard investigative tool. In addition to using it to help identify subjects, officers have found that they can link robberies throughout the region. Also, authorities have received important tips from the public--even within a few days of a crime--because photos of robbers become posted on the site daily. On one occasion, a rail commuter recognized an individual from the Web site and alerted the nearest officer, who arrested the subject on the spot.

The Tip Program

In 2002, as the working group prepared for MassMostWanted to go online, the MBA reactivated a program that--before going dormant for several years--provided funds for cash rewards to citizens who helped identify a bank robber and for payments to confidential informants who worked with authorities on bank robbery cases. Funded by member banks and administered by the MBA and the Worcester County Fraudulent Check Association, the MassMost-Wanted Tip Program is advertised on every case page of the Web site pertaining to a bank robbery. When police departments submit documentation attesting that a citizen has provided information leading to the arrest of a subject, the program provides the funds to the agency.

The Network

The success of MassMostWanted has drawn interest from authorities outside Massachusetts. Shortly after it went online, police departments from bordering states began sending investigations for inclusion on the Web site. For a time, MassMostWanted staff posted some of those cases. However, concern arose that because the site's primary focus on Massachusetts gave users an expectation that they may recognize a subject, posting investigations from other states could diminish that anticipation and, thus, discourage use of MassMostWanted.

The officers who administer the Web site determined that they could replicate it elsewhere at less expense as the design work already was done. Therefore, MassMostWanted staff approached representatives in other states. Soon, Maine-MostWanted was up and running. Additionally, New Hampshire now has its site online and Rhode Island shortly will follow. These sites are linked together, with access provided by a "drop-down box." And, they look and function alike--which makes them equally user-friendly.

Conclusion

Together, the banking and law enforcement communities of Massachusetts continue to fight bank robberies in the state. One of the successes of this partnership is the Web site www.MassMostWanted.org, an important tool that officers have come to rely on and that other states have begun to replicate. This central, easy-to-use source of information pertaining to these crimes serves investigators and citizens alike and continues to prove its value in the fight against bank robberies.

By William G. Brooks III, M.A.

Deputy Chief Brooks serves with the Wellesley, Massachusetts, Police Department.