DETECTION AND IDENTIFICATION OF STOLEN MOTOR VEHICLES (FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT BIBLE, 1978, BY ROBERT A SCANLON SEE NCJ-49390)

• NCJ Number: 49401
• Author(s): J F MCDONALD
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 5 pages
• Corporate Author: Stoeger Publishing Co
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

DETAILS TO AID IN THE DETECTION AND IDENTIFICATION OF BOTH RECENTLY STOLEN AND PHYSICALLY ALTERED STOLEN VEHICLES ARE PRESENTED.

Abstract

ALTHOUGH JUVENILE OFFENDERS AND TRANSPORTATION THIEVES ACCOUNT FOR THE BULK OF MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT, AUTO THEFT FOR PARTS, FOR USE IN THE COMMISSION OF CRIME, AND FOR PROFIT BY ORGANIZED PROFESSIONALS ARE ALSO COMMON. IN SOME JURISDICTIONS FRAUDULENT THEFT REPORTS ACCOUNT FOR A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF AUTOMOBILE THEFT STATISTICS. A NUMBER OF CHARACTERISTICS MAY AID IN THE IDENTIFICATION OF A RECENTLY STOLEN VEHICLE. THESE INCLUDE: ORIGINAL LICENSE PLATE STILL ON VEHICLE LISTED AS STOLEN; INDICATIONS OF A LICENSE PLATE SWITCH SUCH AS HASTILY ATTACHED PLATES, DIRTY PLATES ON A CLEAN CAR, OR CLEAN PLATES ON A DIRTY CAR; BROKEN OR OTHERWISE ABNORMAL IGNITION SWITCH; MOTOR RUNNING WITHOUT KEYS IN IGNITION; ABSENCE OF OWNERSHIP PAPERS; MISSING TRUNK LOCK; AND A SUSPICIOUS-ACTING DRIVER. CAUTION IS ADVISED WHEN APPROACHING A VEHICLE WHEN ONE OR MORE OF THESE INDICATORS HAVE BEEN OBSERVED. VEHICLES WHICH HAVE BEEN ALTERED BY PROFESSIONAL THIEVES ARE MORE DIFFICULT TO DETECT. FORGED MANUFACTURER'S STATEMENTS, TITLE DOCUMENTS AND VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBERS FROM SALVAGE VEHICLES, AND COUNTERFEITED FEDERAL CERTIFICATES AND VEHICLE NUMBERS MAY BE USED TO OBSCURE THE IDENTITY OF A STOLEN VEHICLE. AN ORDER TO DETECT VEHICLES WHICH HAVE BEEN PROCESSED BY A COMMERCIAL RING OPERATION, THE OFFICER WILL HAVE TO BE FAMILIAR WITH THE GENUINE MANUFACTURER'S IDENTIFICATION NUMBER PLATE AND WITH THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF FEDERAL CERTIFICATION LABELS INCLUDING THE PRINTING, COLOR, AND OTHER CHARACTERISTICS. PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION PLATES FOR FORD MOTOR COMPANY, GENERAL MOTORS, AND CHRYSLER CORPORATION LATE MODEL VEHICLES ARE LISTED. IN ADDITION TO SWITCHING IDENTIFICATION PLATES AND CERTIFICATION LABELS, THIEVES MAY OBSCURE IDENTIFICATION NUMBERS ON THE VEHICLE OR ON THE TITLE AND REGISTRATION, COMBINE TWO IDENTIFICATION NUMBERS, OR CHANGE THE LEFT-HAND DOOR. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER ITSELF CAN ALSO PROVIDE THE OFFICER WITH INFORMATION AS THESE NUMBERS PROVIDE CODED INDICATORS OF THE VEHICLE MAKE, MODEL, YEAR, STYLE, ASSEMBLY PLANT, AND SEQUENCE OF MANUFACTURE WHICH MAY BE CHECKED WITH RECORDS. (JAP)