A system and method for investigating crimes occurring at locations that are communicatively connected by a central server is disclosed. The investigation is highly automated and obtains evidence using computer aided searches of historic surveillance data gathered at locations within a computer search area. The investigation also utilizes active searches of real-time surveillance data gathered at the locations in response to a be-on-the-look-out (BOLO) alert sent to the locations from the central server. Based on evidence obtained from these searches, the search area may be updated and the searches may be repeated to follow a moving crime pattern/route. In addition, the information provided from the searches may facilitate the prediction of a location that is likely to experience a crime in the future. Accordingly, the central server may transmit a high alert to the predicted location.