The long arm of the law doesn’t quite reach online crime, according to a new study. The growing use of online shopping, auctions and investing services has made online fraud an increasingly serious problem. Unfortunately police often lack the resources and jurisdiction to effectively investigate and prosecute the offenses.

Ronald Burns and Keith Whitworth of TCU’s department of sociology, criminal justice and anthropology did some investigating of their own and found that “those involved in investigating and prosecuting Internet fraud feel they lack the staff, tools and training to do their jobs effectively,” said Burns. The professors surveyed more than 2,300 law enforcement agencies nationwide to determine how prepared they are to deal with crimes involving online fraud.

The study, supported by the National White Collar Crime Center, revealed that a question about who is going to lead the fight exists among law enforcement agencies, according to Whitworth. Because online crime can take place in multiple cities and states, “there is a strong feeling that federal law enforcement should be dealing with these crimes,” he said.

Burns and Whitworth’s study concluded that the attack on the problem is being conducted “in piecemeal fashion,” Whitworth said. “We need to address jurisdictional issues — and provide the necessary resources at the state and local levels.”