Chapter 15

Motor Vehicle Theft

Hess 15-1

Introduction

• The vehicle, its accessories and the property inside are all targets for thieves

• Most people use motor vehicles to travel to work and for pleasure

• Recreational vehicles are also targets for theft and burglary

• Aircraft and watercraft thefts add to the problems facing police investigators

Hess 15-2

VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER

• Primary, nonduplicated, serialized number

• Assigned by manufacturer

• Critical to investigations

• Identifies specific vehicles

Hess 15-3

Motor Vehicle Identification

CATEGORIES

• Joyriding

• Transportation

• Commission of another crime

• Gang initiation

• Stripping for parts and accessories

• Reselling for profit

Hess 15-4

Classification of Motor Vehicle Theft

JOYRIDING

• Generally a younger person

• For thrills and excitement

TRANSPORTATION

• Travel from one point to another at no cost

• Kept longer than one stolen for joyriding

Hess 15-5

Classification of Motor Vehicle Theft

COMMISSION OF ANOTHER CRIME

• Habitual criminals have stolen at least one car in their criminal careers

• 150 to 200 times more likely to be in an accident

GANG INITIATION

• “Putting in work”

Hess 15-6

Classification of Motor Vehicle Theft

STRIPPING FOR PARTS AND ACCESSORIES

• Airbag theft

• Stealing for chop shops

RESELLING

• VIN is almost alwaysaltered or replaced

• Exported for resale

Hess 15-7

Classification of Motor Vehicle Theft

UNAUTHORIZED USE OF A MOTOR VEHICLE

• Intentionally taking or driving a motor vehicle

Without the consent of the owner

Or owner’s authorized agent

• Check the registration with the state DMV

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Elements of the Crime

INTERSTATE TRANSPORTATION

• Dyer Act

Interstate transportation is a federal crime

• Thief may be prosecuted in any state

• Intent is not required

• Anti-Car Theft Act of 1992

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Elements of the Crime

OVERVIEW

• Person who took the vehicle initially had consent

• Exceeded the terms of that consent

• Does not return it

• Fraudulent appropriation of property

Hess 15-10

Motor Vehicle Embezzlement

OVERVIEW

• Time, date and location of the theft

• Make, model and color of the vehicle

• State of issue of the license plate; license plate number

• Direction of travel; description of any suspect

• Complainant’s present location

Hess 15-11

The Preliminary Investigation

VEHICLE CLONING

• Stolen vehicles assume the identity of legally owned, or “nonstolen,” vehicles

• Stickers and titles to appear legitimate

• Multiple vehicles have same VIN

• High-end luxury cars are the usual targets of cloning

Hess 15-12

Insurance Fraud

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION (FBI)

• FBI’s NCIC contains information on stolen vehicles

• FBI assists local/state authorities on interstate cases

NATIONAL INSURANCE CRIME BUREAU (NICB)

• Nonprofit organization

• Supported by insurance companies

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Cooperating Agencies in Motor Vehicle Theft

TECHNIQUES

• Hot sheet

• Checking system

• Learn common characteristics

• Check suspicious persons and vehicles

• Learn how to question drivers and occupants

Hess 15-14

Recognizing a Stolen Motor Vehicle or an Unauthorized Driver

RECOVERY ISSUES

• Hot sheet

• Private citizen report

• Vehicle recovery report

• Consider the vehicle may have been used in a crime

Hess 15-15

Recovering an Abandoned or StolenMotor Vehicle

OVERVIEW

• Sting operations

• Auto theft training

• Efforts across jurisdictions

• Anti‒car theft campaigns

• Increased penalties

Hess 15-16

Combating Motor Vehicle Theft

LICENSE PLATES

• Automatic license plate recognition (ALPR)

• PlateScan

ROUTINE ACTIVITIES

• Bait car

• Telematic technology

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Combating Motor Vehicle Theft

BORDER AREA AUTO THEFT

• Near ports or the Mexican or Canadian borders

• Policia Internacional Sonora y Arizona (PISA)

THEFT OF PATROL CARS

• Turning the engine off drains the car’s battery quickly

• Technological solutions

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Combating Motor Vehicle Theft

EFFECTIVE MEASURES

• Educational campaigns

• Installing antitheft devices

• Remove keys from the ignition

• Lock vehicles when parked

• Immobilizing devices

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Preventing Auto Theft

TRUCKS AND TRAILERS

• Fingerman

• Spotter

CONSTRUCTION VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT

• Heavy equipment theft is a growing problem

• National Equipment Register (NER)

Hess 15-20

Thefts of Trucks, Construction Vehicles,Aircraft and Other Motorized Vehicles

RECREATIONAL VEHICLES

• 450 makes and models of recreational vehicles (RVs)

• Many contain CB radios, televisions, and DVDs

MOTORIZED BOATS AND JET SKIS

• Identification number on the boat’s hull

• Determine whether the theft claim is legitimate

Hess 15-21

Thefts of Trucks, Construction Vehicles,Aircraft and Other Motorized Vehicles

SNOWMOBILES

• Easy to steal

• Can be transported inside vans and trucks

MOTORCYCLES, MOTOR SCOOTERS AND MOPEDS

• Lack security devices

• Parts are not readily identifiable

Hess 15-22

Thefts of Trucks, Construction Vehicles,Aircraft and Other Motorized Vehicles

AIRCRAFT

• Relatively rare

• High-value theft

• Used in narcotics smuggling

• Highly visible N identification number on fuselage

Hess 15-23

Thefts of Trucks, Construction Vehicles,Aircraft and Other Motorized Vehicles

Summary

• Motor vehicle thefts take much investigative time

• Can provide important information on other crimes under investigation

• The VIN, critical in motor vehicle theft investigations, identifies the specific vehicle in question

• Dyer Act made interstate transportation of a stolen motor vehicle a federal crime

Hess 15-24