2. 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
3. Motor Vehicle Identification
VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER
• Primary, nonduplicated,
serialized number
• Assigned by manufacturer
• Critical to investigations
• Identifies specific vehicles
Hess 15-3
4. Classification of Motor Vehicle Theft
CATEGORIES
• Joyriding
• Transportation
• Commission of another crime
• Gang initiation
• Stripping for parts and accessories
• Reselling for profit
Hess 15-4
5. 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
6. 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
7. Classification of Motor Vehicle Theft
STRIPPING FOR PARTS AND ACCESSORIES
• Airbag theft
• Stealing for chop shops
RESELLING
• VIN is almost always
altered or replaced
• Exported for resale
Hess 15-7
8. Elements of the Crime
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
Hess 15-8
9. 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
Hess 15-9
10. Motor Vehicle Embezzlement
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
11. The Preliminary Investigation
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
12. Insurance Fraud
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
13. Cooperating Agencies in Motor Vehicle Theft
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
Hess 15-13
14. Recognizing a Stolen Motor Vehicle or an
Unauthorized Driver
TECHNIQUES
• Hot sheet
• Checking system
• Learn common characteristics
• Check suspicious persons and vehicles
• Learn how to question drivers and occupants
Hess 15-14
15. Recovering an Abandoned or Stolen
Motor Vehicle
RECOVERY ISSUES
• Hot sheet
• Private citizen report
• Vehicle recovery report
• Consider the vehicle may have been used in a crime
Hess 15-15
16. Combating Motor Vehicle Theft
OVERVIEW
• Sting operations
• Auto theft training
• Efforts across jurisdictions
• Anti‒car theft campaigns
• Increased penalties
Hess 15-16
18. 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
Hess 15-18
19. Preventing Auto Theft
EFFECTIVE MEASURES
• Educational campaigns
• Installing antitheft devices
• Remove keys from the ignition
• Lock vehicles when parked
• Immobilizing devices
Hess 15-19
20. Thefts of Trucks, Construction Vehicles,
Aircraft and Other Motorized Vehicles
TRUCKS AND TRAILERS
• Fingerman
• Spotter
CONSTRUCTION VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT
• Heavy equipment theft is a growing problem
• National Equipment Register (NER)
Hess 15-20
21. 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
22. 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
23. 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
24. 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
