1. Motor vehicle thefts are classified by the perpetrator’s motive or purpose (Orthmann et al., 2017). The major categories of motor vehicle theft are joyriding, transportation, commission of another crime, gang initiation, stripping for parts and accessories, and reselling for profit (Orthmann et al., 2017). Joyriding is the act of taking a vehicle to drive it around for fun and often drive dangerously without regard for any damage caused to it (Orthmann et al., 2017). Transportation refers to the act of stealing a vehicle to travel to another location (Orthmann et al., 2017). The classification of commission of another crime is the act of committing a crime like robbery, kidnapping, burglaries, etc. (Orthmann et al., 2017). Gang initiation could be a result of an auto theft and “putting in the work”. Vehicles can also be stolen to sell the car parts of the vehicle like the transmission, radios, GPS devices, and resell them or the whole car for profit (Orthmann et al., 2017).

A vehicle’s VIN number is the vehicle’s identification number and is used for an identification system due to the high number of vehicles on the road (Orthmann et al., 2017). It is a unique identification number that resembles human DNA, but in cars and is critical in a motor vehicle theft investigations (Orthmann et al., 2017). Some characteristics of a driver driving a stolen vehicle are if they are making sudden stops, driving without the lights on, noticeably fast or slow, or wearing gloves in hot weather (Orthmann et al., 2017). Some characteristics of a stolen car would be only having one or no license plate, instead of two (Orthmann et al., 2017). Plates that are put on using strings or other flimsy methods that are not screws can indicate minimal time to switch out original plates on a stolen vehicle (Orthmann et al., 2017). Abandoned vehicles, tampered ignition switch, and a broken steering column would raise suspicion. An investigator would attempt to get the VIN and match the details with the vehicle. They would also attempt to search for other documents relating to the owner of the vehicle such as registration, insurance, etc. Searching for fingerprints, hair, blood, and other forms of trace evidence in the stolen vehicle would help find a perpetrator.

2. Motor vehicle theft’s are classified by the thief’s motive or purpose. Motor vehicle theft falls into different categories. Those categories include joyriding, transportation, commission of another crime, gang initiation, stripping for parts accessories, and reselling for profit (Hess, 2017, p. 492).

Motor vehicle identification, a vehicles VIN number is important to investigators. The VIN is a non-duplicated number assigned by a manufacturer to each vehicle made. This number identifies the specific vehicle in question. The VIN of vehicle is known as the automotive equivalent of a human DNA. There are no identical VIN numbers.

Just like other crimes a suspicious nature can alert an officer to detect motor vehicle theft. To recognize stolen vehicles, you can develop a checking system to determine what vehicle was stolen, learn the characteristics of a stolen vehicles and car thieves, keep up-to-date with the most frequent stolen vehicles in your area, check suspicious persons or vehicles, and learn how to question suspicious drivers and occupants (Hess, 2017, p. 498). More obvious characteristics are a potential car thief on foot typically appears nervous. Characteristics of a driver of a stolen car include sudden jerks or stops, driving without lights or excessively fast or slowly, wearing gloves in hot weather, and attempting to avoid or out run a scar a squad car. Characteristics of a stolen vehicle include having one license plate when two are required. Having old plates with new screws, expired registration.

An investigator would process a stolen vehicle at a crime scene by examining the vehicle for evidence. Thoroughly document vehicle as it is seen. This includes the exterior and interior such as ignition, dash, glove box, rear seat, and trunk area. Lastly, obtaining fingerprints to identify a person/suspect.