NCJ Number
14625
Date Published
1972
Length
271 pages
Annotation
MANUAL DESIGNED TO PROVIDE LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL WITH A COLLECTION OF BACKGROUND INFORMATION, PROCEDURES, AND SPECIALIZED DATA RELATED TO THE INVESTIGATION OF AUTOMOBILE, TRUCK, AND MOTORCYCLE THEFTS.
Abstract
THE AUTHORS SAY THAT THIS PUBLICATION IS NOT INTENDED AS A TECHNICAL HANDBOOK, BUT AS A BASIC INSTRUCTIONAL GUIDE FOR OFFICERS NEWLY ASSIGNED TO VEHICLE THEFT INVESTIGATION AND AS A REFERENCE GUIDE FOR THOSE WHO MAY BE CALLED UPON ONLY OCCASIONALLY TO HANDLE VEHICLE LARCENY OFFENSES. THE WORK BEGINS WITH AN INTRODUCTION WHICH EXPLAINS THE NATURE OF THE PROBLEM, INCLUDING TRENDS, THE VEHICLE THEFT PROCESS, VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION SYSTEMS, AND VEHICLE THEFT LAWS. THE SECOND MAJOR SECTION DISCUSSES THE CRIMINAL METHODS UTILIZED IN VARIOUS TYPES OF VEHICLE THEFTS. THE VEHICLE THEFT INVESTIGATION PROCESS IS COVERED NEXT, WITH EACH OF THE STEPS RECEIVING SEPARATE ATTENTION - REPORTING THE THEFT, LOCATING THE STOLEN VEHICLE, EXAMINING RECOVERED VEHICLES, TRACING AND IDENTIFYING VEHICLES, AND IMPOUNDING RECOVERED VEHICLES. THE DOCUMENT THEN LOOKS AT THE VARIOUS LOCAL, STATE AND NATIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE. APPENDIX A CONTAINS INFORMATION TO ASSIST THE VEHICLE THEFT INVESTIGATOR IN THE LOCATION OF NUMERICAL IDENTIFIERS ON AUTOMOBILES, TRUCKS, TRACTORS, TRAILERS, AND MOTORCYCLES. APPENDIX B CONTAINS EXTRACTS OF SELECTED BEHICLE THEFT RELATED STATE LEGISLATION AND BRIEF COMMENTARY AS APPROPRIATE.