The research attempts to establish how modus operandi can be used to identify suspects in burglary cases. To conduct effective investigation, it is important for investigators to be familiar with the concept modus operandi, its elements, its influence and its values. To achieve the goals and objectives of the practice of modus operandi, investigators must know how to apply modus operandi, what the situational factors are during a criminal act, and how to use it as technique to identify suspects in burglary cases. The direction by implication and clarification of the crime situation is hardly possible without the determination of the identity of the perpetrator or suspect of a criminal act. The recognition of the modus operandi system as any form of evidence gathering is of outmost importance. / Criminology / M.Tech. (Forensic investigation)

While establishing modus operandi information is an investigative technique that is used globally in the investigation of fraud, investigators of child support grant fraud in South Africa do not properly use this technique in their investigation. The study sought to examine the modus operandi used by civil servants in unduly accessing child support grand fraud. The study adopted a qualitative approach, with structured interviews and literature as data-collection methods. Two sample groups were used to gather data. The data was analysed using spiral method. The study found that modus operandi as a valuable investigation tool was not properly used and in other instances was never used in the investigations. On the basis of the findings, it is recommended that modus operandi captured on the police and corporate database systems be used as reference for comparing modus operandi of known grants fraudsters. Training and skills be provided to public and corporate investigators on the use of modus operandi information in the investigation of social grants. To ensure that good practice is developed, a modus operandi guideline document should be crafted by the South African Police Services' detective division at National level and corporate investigators respectively, with a view to improve conviction rate. / Criminology and Security Science / M. Tech. (Forensic Investigation)

Text in English / As an external cause of death, strangulation represents an extreme and particularly pernicious form of violence. Following the evidence gap in the extant literature, the current research examined the incidence, distributions, individual and situational predictors, and structural determinants of homicidal strangulation in the City of Johannesburg for the period 2001-2010. The thesis is structured around four discrete but interrelated studies, which collectively offer an initial contribution to the body of scholarship on homicide generally, and on the characteristics and patterns of strangulation homicide specifically. The research drew on data from the National Injury Mortality Surveillance System and the South African National Census. Study I is a descriptive study that quantifies the extent of homicidal strangulation in the City of Johannesburg and describes its distribution by characteristics of person, time, place and alcohol consumption. The remaining studies are analytical in focus, and are aimed at explaining homicidal strangulation in the City of Johannesburg in terms of its determinants. These studies are differentiated by their focus on individual-level and neighbourhood-level risks. Study II assesses overall homicide strangulation risk in relation to all the other leading causes of homicide. Study III undertakes further disaggregation to investigate homicidal strangulation risk by gender specifically. Study IV considers the socio-structural correlates and geographic distributions of fatal strangulation. The study engages select micro-level and macro-level theories that focus on the intersection between vulnerability and routine activities, gender and neighbourhood derivatives of violence to explain the social ecology of lethal strangulation. The research findings demonstrate that homicidal strangulation in the City of Johannesburg is a unique phenomenon that is distinct from overall homicide. As the fourth leading cause of homicide in the City of Johannesburg, fatal strangulation exhibits a marked female preponderance in victimisation and distinctive socio-demographic, spatio-temporal, sex-specific and neighbourhood-level variation in risk. The study is aligned with the increasing trend towards disaggregating overall homicide into more defined and conceptually meaningful categories of homicide. The study may represent one of the first empirical investigations that also attempts to offer theoretically-derived explanations of homicidal strangulation in South Africa. Fatal strangulation is a multi-faceted phenomenon that requires multi-dimensional and multi-level interventions directed at several points of its social ecology. / Psychology / D. Phil. (Psychology)

The research attempts to establish how modus operandi can be used to identify suspects in burglary cases. To conduct effective investigation, it is important for investigators to be familiar with the concept modus operandi, its elements, its influence and its values. To achieve the goals and objectives of the practice of modus operandi, investigators must know how to apply modus operandi, what the situational factors are during a criminal act, and how to use it as technique to identify suspects in burglary cases. The direction by implication and clarification of the crime situation is hardly possible without the determination of the identity of the perpetrator or suspect of a criminal act. The recognition of the modus operandi system as any form of evidence gathering is of outmost importance. / Criminology and Security Science / M.Tech. (Forensic investigation)

Rape is a serious crime and is a huge problem in Ethiopia. It has a devastating effect on the victim and society as a whole. The Ethiopian news is peppered with reports of this crime. Anorganized and sophisticated way in which the perpetrators of rape can be identified is by the use of modus operandi information. The aim of this research is to evaluate how modus operandi can be used as a perpetrator identification technique in the investigation of rape cases in the Gulele policing area. For any investigation to be successful, the investigator must have the objectives of crime investigation in mind. In the investigation of crime, the collection of evidence is important and there are two basic important principles, namely Locard’s principle and the chain of custody that investigator must comply with. These will ensure that evidence is admissible during a trial. Evidence is found on a crime scene. In rape cases, the body of the perpetrator and the victim can be seen as the crime scene. For evidence to be applicable to the investigation, it must first be identified and then individualised. It is important for investigators to be familiar with the concept of modus operandi, and the influencing factors. The purpose of this research is to provide practical recommendations on the best practices for the use of modus operandi. / Police Practice / M. Tech. (Forensic Investigation)

While establishing modus operandi information is an investigative technique that is used globally in the investigation of fraud, investigators of child support grant fraud in South Africa do not properly use this technique in their investigation. The study sought to examine the modus operandi used by civil servants in unduly accessing child support grand fraud. The study adopted a qualitative approach, with structured interviews and literature as data-collection methods. Two sample groups were used to gather data. The data was analysed using spiral method. The study found that modus operandi as a valuable investigation tool was not properly used and in other instances was never used in the investigations. On the basis of the findings, it is recommended that modus operandi captured on the police and corporate database systems be used as reference for comparing modus operandi of known grants fraudsters. Training and skills be provided to public and corporate investigators on the use of modus operandi information in the investigation of social grants. To ensure that good practice is developed, a modus operandi guideline document should be crafted by the South African Police Services' detective division at National level and corporate investigators respectively, with a view to improve conviction rate. / Criminology and Security Science / M. Tech. (Forensic Investigation)

Text in English / As an external cause of death, strangulation represents an extreme and particularly pernicious form of violence. Following the evidence gap in the extant literature, the current research examined the incidence, distributions, individual and situational predictors, and structural determinants of homicidal strangulation in the City of Johannesburg for the period 2001-2010. The thesis is structured around four discrete but interrelated studies, which collectively offer an initial contribution to the body of scholarship on homicide generally, and on the characteristics and patterns of strangulation homicide specifically. The research drew on data from the National Injury Mortality Surveillance System and the South African National Census. Study I is a descriptive study that quantifies the extent of homicidal strangulation in the City of Johannesburg and describes its distribution by characteristics of person, time, place and alcohol consumption. The remaining studies are analytical in focus, and are aimed at explaining homicidal strangulation in the City of Johannesburg in terms of its determinants. These studies are differentiated by their focus on individual-level and neighbourhood-level risks. Study II assesses overall homicide strangulation risk in relation to all the other leading causes of homicide. Study III undertakes further disaggregation to investigate homicidal strangulation risk by gender specifically. Study IV considers the socio-structural correlates and geographic distributions of fatal strangulation. The study engages select micro-level and macro-level theories that focus on the intersection between vulnerability and routine activities, gender and neighbourhood derivatives of violence to explain the social ecology of lethal strangulation. The research findings demonstrate that homicidal strangulation in the City of Johannesburg is a unique phenomenon that is distinct from overall homicide. As the fourth leading cause of homicide in the City of Johannesburg, fatal strangulation exhibits a marked female preponderance in victimisation and distinctive socio-demographic, spatio-temporal, sex-specific and neighbourhood-level variation in risk. The study is aligned with the increasing trend towards disaggregating overall homicide into more defined and conceptually meaningful categories of homicide. The study may represent one of the first empirical investigations that also attempts to offer theoretically-derived explanations of homicidal strangulation in South Africa. Fatal strangulation is a multi-faceted phenomenon that requires multi-dimensional and multi-level interventions directed at several points of its social ecology. / Psychology / D. Phil. (Psychology)

This study sought to examine the value of modus operandi (MO) information in the investigation of short-term insurance fraud. A comprehensive literature study was conducted concerning the dynamics of MO information in forensic investigation and short-term insurance fraud in South Africa and internationally, and individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with forensic investigators at Santam and MiWay to promote knowledge and understanding of the importance of MO information in short-term insurance fraud investigations. Results of this research indicate that participants did grasp the significance of MO information in the investigation of short-term insurance fraud. It is, however, apparent that they did not optimally exploit MO information regarding insurance fraud as a result of limited experience, ineffective databases and the inaccessibility of available data – all of which prevent the improvement of utilising MO data pertaining to short-term insurance fraud. Forensic investigators in the short-term insurance industry isolate themselves from each other and fail to share the available MO information amongst each other, resulting in a non-systematic fragmented approach to short-term insurance fraud investigation. The study identifies the challenges and shortcomings experienced by forensic investigators at Santam and MiWay that prevent the optimal utilisation of MO information in the investigation of short-term insurance fraud. The study then suggests a set of recommendations that could assist forensic investigators and other role-players in enhancing the utilisation of such information. / Criminology and Security Science / M. Tech. (Forensic Investigation)

Text in English / This research attempts to analyse the modus operandi (MO) of perpetrators used in cases of trafficking in persons for sexual purposes, and trafficking in children. The Trafficking in Persons Bill was passed in South Africa, but not gazetted; therefore, alternate charges are used to prosecute perpetrators. The purpose, value and elements of MO allow an investigator to link a perpetrator to a specific crime scene. The research provides an examination of case dockets and the MO of perpetrators in human trafficking – inter alia, looking at such issues as time, location, transport routes used, criminal motive, recruitment styles, and the number of offenders. The MO of perpetrators identified during docket analysis indicates many similarities, when compared to the international MO of traffickers. The gathering of MO information forms a critical part of any investigation to link a perpetrator to a crime. This research therefore presents a comprehensive examination of the MO of perpetrators, and delivers practical recommendations to monitor and combat trafficking. / Police Practice / M. Tech. (Forensic Investigation)

This study sought to examine the significance of modus operandi information in the investigation of copper theft. Data was collected by means of a literature study and individual semi-structured interviews conducted with detectives at the SAPS Philippi East, in the Nyanga policing cluster, in the Western Cape, to promote knowledge and understanding of the significance of modus operandi information in copper theft investigations. A comprehensive literature study, concerning the dynamics of modus operandi information in forensic investigation and copper theft in South Africa, was conducted. From the results of this research, it appears that participants do realize the significance of modus operandi information in the investigation of copper theft. It is, however, evident that they do not optimally utilize modus operandi information regarding copper thieves as a result of limited experience, case docket overload, and the inaccessibility of available data – all of which inhibit the establishment of modus operandi information pertaining to copper thieves. Role-players in the copper theft investigation sphere isolate themselves from each other and do not share the available modus operandi information amongst each other; these results in a non-systematic integrated approach to copper theft investigation. The study identifies the challenges and shortcomings, experienced by detectives at SAPS Philippi East, which inhibit the optimal utilization of modus operandi information in the investigation of copper theft. The study then puts forward a set of recommendations that could assist the SAPS, the relevant parastatals and other role-players in enhancing the utilization of such information. / Criminology and Security Science / M. Tech. (Forensic Investigation)