Internet Predators Targeted

By Blackwell Thomas

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Police’s Internet Crimes Unit began operations Wednesday, initiating what officials said is the first statewide program of its kind in the country.

State Police Director Larry Trent said his office does not know the extent of Internet crime in Illinois but instances of identity fraud and online theft are occurring more frequently.

“The Internet is fertile hunting ground for criminals who victimize from across town or across the globe,” he said. “We don’t know how bad Internet crime is but we believe that it is huge.”

Thirty investigators, intelligence analysts and computer forensics experts make up the unit. It is their job, Trent said, to investigate online crimes and support local law enforcement in their efforts to do the same.

Officers in the unit said they will focus their efforts in three areas: prevention through education, enforcement and forensic investigation.

Trent said the enforcement arm of the unit will consist of investigators and analysts who will work to identify online predators and evaluate citizen reports before sending them to the appropriate law enforcement agencies.

“And if a local police department does not have the resources to follow up on it, we will,” he added.

The unit’s public face comes in the form of a new Web site that officials hope will serve both as a clearinghouse of information and a place where citizens can file reports when they suspect an Internet crime.

The new unit will not cost taxpayers more money, Illinois State Police spokesman Lt. Scott Compton said.

“Everyone that is in ICU was already investigating similar crimes in the past,” he said. “They were already on payroll; they are just being redirected from their previous units. New funds were not requested or received for it.”

Compton added: “There will not be a lag in service.”

(c) 2007 Pantagraph. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.