Increased patrols within an area would generally be least successful in preventing which crime?

Increased patrols are generally most effective in deterring crimes that are often opportunistic or tend to happen in specific locations, such as theft, burglary, and robbery. These types of crimes can be influenced by the presence of law enforcement, as the increased visibility can discourage potential offenders from committing these acts.

Murder, however, is often not as easily affected by increased patrols due to the nature of the crime, which is typically planned and often occurs in different contexts, such as domestic disputes, gang-related activities, or personal conflicts. The motivations behind murder can be complex and more deeply rooted in personal relationships or specific situations rather than being opportunistic. Therefore, while increased patrols can deter some criminal activity, their impact on preventing murder is usually minimal, making it the crime that would be least affected by increased patrol presence.