Class Name, Instructor Name Lasley & Guskos, Criminal Investigation: An Illustrated Case Study Approach 1ed Chapter 15 VEHICLE THEFT SCENES Class Name, Instructor Name Date, Semester

CHAPTER OBJECTIVES Describe the crime of motor vehicle theft and how motor vehicle theft investigations are conducted Be familiar with the various reasons for committing vehicle theft Know the methods of vehicle break-ins and thefts Know common types of vehicle fraud and how they are carried out

Learning Objectives After this lecture, you should be able to complete the following Learning Outcomes Describe the crime of motor vehicle theft and how motor vehicle theft investigations are conducted

Investigations

Grand Theft Auto Defined Individuals who remove, steal, or drive a vehicle without first obtaining the owner’s permission have committed motor vehicle theft.

State Laws Regarding Stolen Vehicles Vehicle Chop Shop and Altered Property Laws: prohibit the operation of a chop shop or other facility that engages in the dismantling of stolen vehicles or the alteration of stolen vehicles or their parts. Salvage Certificate Fraud Laws: prohibit junk yards, salvagers, or other vehicle recyclers from creating fake or fraudulent titles on vehicles declared a “total loss” by insurance companies—which are often later used by thieves who sell stolen cars or misrepresent junked vehicles as undamaged vehicles. Vehicle Owner Fraud Laws: prohibit vehicle owners from filing false theft reports or engaging in other activities classified as insurance fraud to obtain monetary settlements for vehicles they cannot sell or otherwise cannot afford.

Chop Shop

Federal Laws Regarding Stolen Vehicles Making it a federal offense to carjack a vehicle; to own, operate, maintain, or control a chop shop; to alter or remove motor vehicle identification numbers; to deal in stolen marked parts; to conduct interstate trafficking of stolen vehicles and parts (made illegal under federal RICO racketeering statutes); and to counterfeit or forge motor vehicle title certificates Requiring state DMVs to check VINs of out-of-state cars before issuing titles to new owners, and requiring auto recyclers and repair shops that sell or install used parts to check VINS against the FBI’s stolen-car database Requiring manufacturers of certain high-theft passenger cars to put the identification numbers (i.e., VIN numbers) on the engine, the transmission, and 12 major body parts Allowing for the seizure and forfeiture of vehicles or components with falsified or removed identification numbers Requiring that exporters of used motor vehicles submit a proof of ownership containing the vehicle’s identification number to the customs and border officials before exporting the vehicle Upgrading state motor-vehicle department databases containing title information, enabling federal and state law enforcement officials to rapidly determine whether a motor vehicle is stolen Providing immunity for persons furnishing knowledge to police about auto theft law violators

Be familiar with the various reasons for committing vehicle theft Learning Objectives After this lecture, you should be able to complete the following Learning Outcomes Be familiar with the various reasons for committing vehicle theft

Reasons for Vehicle Theft Long-term Transportation Short-term Transportation Joyriding

Joyriding

Reasons for Vehicle Theft Profit Insurance Fraud Committing a Crime Trade for Drugs

Know the methods of vehicle break-ins and thefts Learning Objectives After this lecture, you should be able to complete the following Learning Outcomes Know the methods of vehicle break-ins and thefts

Vehicle Break-in Methods Ninja Rocks- throws porcelain spark plugs into drivers side window to gain access Bricking or Stoning- throw into the window to gain access Slim Jims Door Wedging- flat edge tools to assist in gaining access are used

Vehicle Break-in Methods Master Keying—using a master key from someone such as a locksmith Lock Punching Code Grabbing— obtained by the remote keyless entry Key Theft

Vehicle theft depends on this: Type of vehicle Age of vehicle Offenders knowledge, experience, and expertise in defeating vehicle security systems

Vehicle Theft Methods Ignition punching Hot wiring Keys stolen in a burglary Keys stolen in a robbery Keys left in vehicle Key cloning Taken without consent Identity theft, fraud, forgery Towing

Professional Vehicle Theft Chopping for parts and scrap metal Strip and run VIN switching Salvage switching Counterfeit VIN Body switching Vehicle exporting

Vehicle Theft Ring Characteristics Concentrate high-frequency theft in specific locations An organized group structure, with identifiable leadership Have a group size of 10 members or less Rarely use force to acquire a vehicle Target newer model cars Target cars with valuables in them Steal cars at all times of the day Have a centralized chop shop location Target cars with unique features/options Recruit males under the age of 30 years, of various racial backgrounds

Proven investigative techniques for auto theft rings Car Buy/Traffic Stops Parking Lot/Structure Surveillance Controlled Buys of Parts Undercover House Bait Cars

Controlling the buying and selling of parts

Carjacking It usually takes no more than 15 seconds for a carjacking suspect to overpower a victim and take possession of a stolen auto. If a weapon is used, it will be a handgun 90 percent of the time. Knives are the second weapon of choice of carjackers. Most carjacking incidents take place approximately 5 miles from the victim’s home. The most popular location for a carjacking is a parking lot, followed by city streets, residential driveways, car dealerships, and gas stations. Persons stopped in traffic or exiting their vehicles also are likely targets. Most victims of a carjacking are lone males who live in urban locations. There is no specific type of vehicle targeted by a carjacker; older, less expensive as well as new luxury models are both at risk. About half of all carjacking attempts are successful. Carjackers usually strike on weekends at night between the hours of 8 and 11 PM. Most carjackers operate alone, but sometimes in pairs

Know common types of vehicle fraud and how they are carried out Learning Objectives After this lecture, you should be able to complete the following Learning Outcomes Know common types of vehicle fraud and how they are carried out

Vehicle Insurance Fraud Owner give-up: cannot sell car so they report it has been stolen 30-day special: files a false theft report hides vehicle for 30 days, high mileage with damage likely Export Scam: shortly after purchased, rented, leased owner files false theft report Phantom Car Scheme: fake title/registration used to secure insurance on a vehicle that does not exit

Vehicle Insurance Fraud Scapegoat Theft: executed to enable vehicle owner’s to avoid detection of another crime they were involved in Auto Arson: Purposely torch to obtain insurance money or cover up crime Inflated Costs: repair facility inflates cost to make money

Odometer Rollback Indicators Loose screws or scratch marks around the dashboard where the odometer is located. Fingerprints or debris located on the inner side of the clear plastic covering of the instrument panel where the odometer is located. Numbers that do not appear straight or line up correctly, especially at the 10,000 mark. Sticking of the odometer when the vehicle is driven. Stickers on doors, windshields, or under the hood that indicate mileage at which services such as oil changes were performed. These may exceed the number showing on the odometer. Perform computer checks on vehicle databases. Altered sections of the original title where the vehicle’s mileage was written by its previous owner. Wear of brakes, tires, seats, or other vehicle components that is inconsistent with the wear expected for the stated odometer reading. The vehicle is being sold shortly after a new title has been issued. A new title may have been created to cover up mileage stated on a previous title. Many odometers contain security tags and clips where they are attached to the vehicle. These are broken when the odometer is either disconnected or replaced.

Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) REQUIRE A VIN: Transmission Front and rear bumpers Engine Hood Right and left doors Sliding cargo door Right and left quarter panels and side assembly Pickup/cargo box Rear doors and hatchback/deck lid/tailgate

Reading the VIN Position 1: Country where the vehicle was manufactured Position 2: Vehicle Manufacturer Position 3--8: Description of the Vehicle and features Position 9: The VIN’s check digit Position 10: Year vehicle was manufactured Position 11: Final assembly plant for the vehicle Position 12--17: Vehicle’s unique serial number

Vehicle Databases and Information Sources National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS) : Title information Brand history Odometer readings Total loss history Salvage history Law enforcement specific information Insurance Service Office Database: Similar to NMVTIS Contains insurance claims Database derives from the National Insurance Crime Bureau

Vehicle Databases and Information Sources National Crime Information Center: Information on vehicles known to law enforcement to be stolen/involved in criminal activities Other Sources: All states have departments of motor vehicles with computerized databases regarding information on vehicles

Nonautomotive Vehicle Theft Motorcycle Very low recovery rate Many are taken to a chop shop Marine Stolen boats often go unreported Most are small crafts 20 ft and under Dry theft, wet theft, cut and grab Heavy Equipment Taken after hours Professional thieves Equipment is dismantled Many pieces exported

CHAPTER SUMMARY Generally speaking, individuals who remove, steal, or drive a vehicle without first obtaining the owner’s permission have committed motor vehicle theft. There are various reasons for committing vehicle theft including (1) joyriding, which is stealing a car or other vehicle to have “fun” with; (2) short-term transportation, which is stealing a vehicle simply to get from one place to another because there are no other available means of transportation; (3) long-term transportation, which is stealing for the purpose of acquiring a desired type of vehicle; (4) profit, which is stealing a vehicle to sell it or its parts for profit; (5) insurance fraud, which involves making fraudulent claims of theft of, or damage to a vehicle for purposes of obtaining an insurance settlement; (6) committing a crime, where a vehicle is stolen for transportation to and from a crime scene or for other means of facilitating a crime; and (7) trade for drugs, where a stolen vehicle is stolen and exchanged for drugs or money to buy drugs.

CHAPTER SUMMARY Most vehicle break-ins are carried out by techniques used to break windows, called ninja rocking and bricking or stoning, and to force doors open, called door wedging; lock punching; using devices called Slim Jims; methods involving electronic key code identification called code grabbing; or simple key theft from a residence. Vehicle theft methods include using force to break an ignition lock (ignition punching); hot wiring; using a key stolen in a burglary or robbery, or that has been left in the vehicle; using an electronic device called a key cloner ; taking a car without consent; using a false ID to purchase or obtain use of a vehicle; or towing the vehicle away. Vehicle fraud can be carried out to (1) sell a car that has been stolen or is of less value than the buyer believes it to be or (2) obtain an insurance settlement for a vehicle under false pretenses. Vehicle cloning is a popular method used to sell a salvaged or stolen car under the guise that it has never been damaged or stolen.