RP,
You really are a bit sad! Helicopters stop muggings by making the arrest of the culprit more likely. Strangely enough the increased likelihood of getting caught reduces the culprits enthusiasm for the job.
My view on the subject is not imagination for I have been the person responsible to the public for the success or otherwise of my anti crime measures.
In the years 1990 - 1995 we had air support on a temporary abd casual basis. 3 months there and three months not etc. During that period we could mirror the rise & fall of our street crime by the presence or not of our Helicopter.
Also we stopped the helicopter at 0300 to save money. We soon noticed that crime after 0300 was rising!
The temporary cure for that one was for the control room to have periodic conversations with our none existing aircraft. Ground based units suitable briefed provided the other end of the conversation!
So what it worked for a while!
I say again RP you have a very shallow knowledge of Police work. Age and service length please!
TF