334 Auto Crimes

Question 1

The auto crimes unit conducts and oversees investigations of vehicle thefts and vehicle burglaries as well as

Answer 1

conducts inspections of motor vehicle repair and salvage businesses.
investigates failure to redeliver hired/ rentals
oversees placing and removing holds on recovered vehicle
oversee issuing commercial vehicle alerts

Question 2

When should an auto crimes detective be called out?

Answer 2

• a suspect is arrested in connection with a chop shop
  -auto burglary arrest
  -arrest where multiple stolen vehicles are recovered
• suspect is in possession of a firearm during an auto burglary within the past year in the 4th circuit
  -altered VIN number
• suspect in possession of stolen car from dealership
  -suspect in possession of stolen motorcycle, F-series truck or greater, or other specialized vehicle
• cargo theft
  if a supervisor deems beneficial

Question 3

Auto Crimes Unit detectives shall be notified when multiple vehicles ____________ are broken into in the same proximity.

Answer 3

3 or more

Question 4

Multiple offenses arising out of the same incident which occurred during the same time period may be listed on ___________________ (i.e., apartment complex, neighborhood, parking lot, etc.).

Answer 4

one incident report

Question 5

During the initial investigation of a stolen vehicle, an officer should determine if the vehicle was:

Answer 5

a. Repossessed (this can be verified by the National Crime Information Center [NCIC] on talk group 7 or [904] 630-0594);
b. Loaned to someone or lost (e.g., left at an unknown location by the victim);
c. Towed by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO);
d. Involved in a previous hit and run traffic crash and is now being fraudulently reported as a stolen vehicle;
e. Taken under questionable circumstances (refer to this order); and
f. A commercial vehicle, or any portion thereof was a commercial vehicle (refer to this order.

Question 6

When should BOLOs be broadcast on the zone talk groups?

Answer 6

when they have occured within the last hour

Question 7

If the victim cannot provide the registration or tag information and an officer is not able to obtain the information from NCIC what will occur?

Answer 7

The auto theft report is completed, but the vehicle is not entered into NCIC as stolen until the registration info is complete.

Question 8

In the event a vehicle is registered to more than one registered vehicle owner, it is imperative that all registered owners be contacted to verify that the incident is not a civil dispute. This effort can be satisfied through one of several methods to include but not limited to:

Answer 8

(1) The responding officer verifies with all registered owners; and/or
(2) One registered owner giving assurance using the Auto Theft Affidavit that they have spoken with the other registered owner(s) to ensure the vehicle is not in their lawful possession; and/or
(3) A power of attorney permitting a third party to act on behalf of the affected party or parties.

Question 9

If none of the above can be accomplished and a reasonable possibility exists that the other owner has possession of the vehicle, an Auto Theft Report can still be written; however,

Answer 9

the vehicle will not be entered into NCIC as stolen

If necessary, follow-up contact will be made by an assigned Auto Theft Detective in an effort to determine if the vehicle should be entered into the NCIC system as stolen.

Question 10

Thefts of farm/construction equipment, boats, trailers, bicycles, personal watercraft and airplanes are to be reported as “Theft,” or “Auto Theft.”?

Answer 10

Theft

Question 11

All trailers that require a license plate must be

Answer 11

called into NCIC so they can be entered as stolen.

Question 12

the offense when a car, truck, motorcycle, or tractor trailer combination was reported stolen in another jurisdiction and is recovered by JSO is?

Answer 12

Auto Theft- Recovery Other Jurisdiction

Question 13

The “location of incident” will be?

Answer 13

location where vehicle was recovered

Question 14

If a suspect is arrested involving a vehicle stolen from another jurisdiction, what reports will be documented?

Answer 14

Arrest report with Grand theft- motor vehicle as offense

Information report- auto-theft recovery other jurisdiction.

Question 15

Can an auto theft rec/oj be cleared by arrest?

Answer 15

no. this is an information report. the narrative should reference the arrest docket.

Question 16

When a vehicle is recovered by JSO that has been reported stolen by another agency which uses ARMS to document their reports

Answer 16

The officer will document the incident utilizing an Incident Report and Arrest & Booking Report, if necessary, under a JSO CCR number and not the original reporting agency’s CCR number.

Question 17

Can incidents where a victim’s vehicle has been returned and the victim no longer desires prosecution of the suspect (suspect has been positively identified) the incident may be exceptionally cleared

Answer 17

yes with the approval of a supervisor

Question 18

What procedures must occur to exceptionally clear these types of cases?

Answer 18

(1) Have the victim complete a statement on a JSO Statement Form (P-0349) clearly stating that they no longer desire prosecution of the suspect.
(2) The officer shall notify a supervisor (Sergeant or higher) and request permission to exceptionally clear the case due to lack of cooperation on behalf of the victim
(3) Once permission is received to exceptionally clear the case, the investigative officer shall complete a Supplemental Report stating the victim’s vehicle has been returned and they no longer want to seek prosecution of the suspect. The approving supervisor shall be listed in the narrative of the Supplemental Report.

Question 19

In all theft of motorized commercial vehicles carrying cargo, the charge will be

Answer 19

Motor Vehicle Theft

Question 20

In circumstances where the commercial vehicle is leased, who is the listed victim?

Answer 20

the leasing company. the leasee is listed as the complainant

Question 21

If there is a theft of an attached or unattached trailer, the theft will be what offense?

Answer 21

Grand Theft (Unspecified)

Question 22

What section of the report will the trailer be listed?

Answer 22

vehicle section

Question 23

Can two part trailers be listed together?

Answer 23

No, each trailer section is listed separately on the vehicle section

Question 24

When an officer determines that a vehicle was taken under questionable circumstances (i.e., the vehicle appears to have been loaned out in exchange for drugs), which would eliminate probable cause for the immediate arrest of a suspect, the officer shall:

Answer 24

1. Complete an Incident Report and select “Auto Theft” as the offense;
2. Do NOT have the vehicle entered into the Florida Crime Information Center (FCIC)/NCIC as stolen;
3. Request the victim complete a Stolen Vehicle/Vessel Affidavit form (P-0412) and advise him/her the consequences of making a false statement; and
4. Instruct the victim to immediately contact JSO if the vehicle is returned or found.

Question 25

What can an officer use as a factor in determining if probable cause would exist for the immediate arrest of a suspect found to be in possession of the vehicle.

Answer 25

a victim’s refusal to sign or complete a stolen vehicle/ vessel affidavit form

Question 26

The primary reporting officer shall:

Answer 26

1. Continue to investigate the case as a Category “B” patrol follow up for 10 days, completing Supplemental Reports as necessary to document his efforts;
2. Have the vehicle entered into FCIC/NCIC as stolen if he establishes probable cause for the charge of “Auto Theft;” and

Question 27

After how many days can the vehicle be entered into FCIC/NCIC as stolen.

Answer 27

10 days, request assistance from the assigned Det.

Contact NCIC Peco, complete a Supplement report.

Question 28

If the investigating officer determines that the case is a civil matter or the victim falsely reported the vehicle as stolen?

Answer 28

the officer shall close the case using “Unfounded” as disposition and change the “Current Items status” to “Unfounded”

Question 29

does fraudulently rented vehicles (e.g., involving the use of stolen credit cards, fictitious names, false information on the application, etc.)

Answer 29

No, there is no waiting period.

Question 30

These offenses shall be reported as a fraud and immediately entered in FCIC/NCIC. These reports shall be routed to?

Answer 30

Economic Crimes Unit

Question 31

Officers responding to incidents where a rental vehicle has not been returned to the company from which it was rented shall title the report as

Answer 31

Failure to Redeliver a Hired Vehicle

Question 32

before the report is completed the officer shall ensure that:

Answer 32

a. The vehicle is overdue by at least seven days;
b. The rental company has completed and provided the responding officer with the following items to be provided to the State Attorney’s Office (SAO) upon requesting an arrest warrant for the suspect:

Question 33

The items needed by the SAO for the warrant request include:

Answer 33

fialure to return affidavit (by owner or rep)
copy of lease
a clerk affidavit confirming the identity of leasee
documented attempts to demand return
copy of all receipts
copy of any notes or correspondence with leasee
copy of letter sent, to include certified letter with return receipt request
signature form
vehicle registration
inventory affidavit

Question 34

After review of the packet is complete and an SAO case number assigned, who determines if the vehicle should be entered into FCIC/ NCIC as stolen?

Answer 34

The case is reviewed with an auto crimes Det. and the decision is made INDEPENDENT of the SAO filing decision

Question 35

During the review process, the filing attorney will also review the Failure to Redeliver a Hired Vehicle filing package materials to determine if an arrest warrant should be issued. Their decision shall be documented on a Supplemental Report. Failure to Return Hired Vehicle cases fall within the Managing Criminal Investigations as a?

Answer 35

(MCI) Category “A” guidelines which require patrol officers to conduct the follow-up investigations.

Question 36

Recovery of Stolen Vehicles

Verify the vehicle is stolen by checking the vehicle’s _________________.

Answer 36

Vin through NCIC.

Do not verify vehicles as stolen only by the vehicle license tag!

Question 37

Who is notified that the vehicle has been recovered via radio so the vehicle can be removed from the stolen vehicle file.

Answer 37

NCIC

Question 38

Process vehicle in accordance with?

Answer 38

Crime scene operations (order 338)

Question 39

What other steps are needed to complete the vehicle recovery?

Answer 39

Notify the victim
Complete Sup on the original CCR
Release vehicle by completing the Signature Form
Tow if needed and place appropriate holds

Question 40

Commercial Vehicle Alert
If the vehicle stolen or recovered is a commercial vehicle or any portion of a commercial vehicle, whether or not it contains a load, the reporting officer will contact?

Answer 40

NCIC PECO over the phone.