Plural policing in rural contexts: a GPS-based evaluation of multi-entity patrols against fruit theft

This study examined the efficacy of multi-entity collaborative patrols in rural contexts through a quantitative analysis of GPS-tracked patrol activities aimed at preventing agricultural theft. We tracked patrols conducted by six organizations in two Japanese municipalities during the 2023 fruit harvest season. We found significant differences in patrol characteristics across spatial scale, movement patterns, temporal distribution, and physical route properties. Furthermore, the diverse patrol entities substantially improved both the temporal and spatial coverage. This study contributes to rural criminology and plural policing research by introducing GPS-based quantitative assessment techniques. The results indicate the value of plural policing approaches in rural contexts, where collaboration among entities with complementary operational characteristics can maximize limited resources for crime prevention.