Missing Property Types

The Missing Property Types feature allows administrators to define and categorize different kinds of missing or stolen property (e.g., Electronics, Jewelry, Documents) within incident reports. Its primary purpose is to enable detailed and structured data collection for lost or stolen items, enhancing the overall accuracy of incident documentation and supporting external investigations. This article is intended for OPS-COM administrators responsible for managing incident configurations and reporting.

Setup and Configuration

This feature is a core administrative tool used to establish the specific categories and data points available to enforcement officers when documenting missing property.

Admin Side: Administrators must have the appropriate system role permissions enabled to access the incident configuration menus and manage missing property categories.

Using this Feature

Administrators can use the following instructions to navigate the management interface to seamlessly add, edit, or delete property types and their associated fields.

Accessing the Management Interface

1. Hover over System Configuration, click Incidents, then Missing Property Types.

Adding Property Types

1. Click the Add New Type button.

2. Enter the descriptive category in the Name field.

3. Click the Add New button to save the new missing property type to the system.

Adding Fields to Types

1. Click the View Fields button next to the specific property type you wish to expand.

2. Click the Add New Field button.

3. Enter a descriptive title in the Field Name field (e.g., Serial Number, Color, or Brand).

4. Select the appropriate formatting option from the Field Type drop-down menu (e.g., checkbox, textbox, or dropdown).

5. Enable the Required checkbox if this piece of information must be collected to successfully submit the incident report.

6. Click the Add New button to save the new field configuration.

Editing Property Types

1. Click the specific property type name you wish to modify.

2. Enter the desired changes into the name field.

3. Click the Save Changes button.

To modify any of the specific descriptive fields associated with the property type, click the View Fields button.

Deleting Property Types

Deleting a missing property type is a two-step process if it currently has associated fields attached to it.

1. Click the View Fields button next to the specific property type.

2. Click the Delete All button.

3. Click the Save Changes button to delete the selected fields.

4. Click the Delete Property Type button to permanently remove the category from the system.

If there are absolutely no fields currently associated with that property type, you can immediately click the Delete Property Type button without performing the field deletion steps.

Best Practices and Considerations

• Implement structured data collection: Use fields within each property type to ensure structured and consistent data collection. For example, when configuring an "Electronics" category, add specific fields for "Make," "Model," and "Serial Number" to guarantee officers capture actionable data.

• Maintain clear and concise names: Use descriptive names for both property types and their fields. Utilizing clear nomenclature improves usability and clarity for officers actively filling out incident reports in the field.

• Use required fields carefully: Carefully consider which fields are truly required. While complete data is valuable, forcing too many required fields can create an unnecessary data entry burden for officers during high-stress situations.

• Understand data integrity locks: Remember that a property type cannot be deleted if it has associated fields. This structural mechanism helps prevent orphaned data and ensures the historical integrity of your incident records.

• Leverage structured data for reporting: Well-defined missing property types and their fields significantly enhance the quality of reports. Accurate, categorized data directly aids in comprehensive investigations and property recovery efforts.