ORGANIZED AUTO THEFT

• NCJ Number: 59904
• Author(s): J M TREPEL
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 83 pages
• Grant Number(s): 78-PT-AX-0003
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice
• Corporate Author: National Assoc of Attorneys General
• Sale Source: National Assoc of Attorneys General
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

AN OVERVIEW OF THE ORGANIZED AUTO THEFT PROBLEM IS PRESENTED, EMPHASIZING THE TITLING AND REGISTRATION PROCESS, AS WELL AS FEDERAL AND MANUFACTURERS' RESPONSES TO AUTO THEFT.

Abstract

THE SCOPE AND CHARACTER OF AUTO THEFT ARE EXAMINED, THE DISCUSSION POINTING OUT THAT A CAR WAS STOLEN EVERY 33 SECONDS IN 1977, AND 1 OUT OF EVERY 44 REGISTERED MOTOR VEHICLES WAS EITHER STOLEN OR HAD CONTENTS STOLEN IN 1977. EVIDENCE ALSO POINTS TO THE INCREASED PARTICIPATION OF ORGANIZED OR PROFESSIONAL THEFT RINGS AND THE DECLINE OF JUVENILE PARTICIPATION. VEHICLES ARE OFTEN UNRECOVERED BECAUSE THE CARS HAVE BEEN EXPORTED OR DISMANTLED INTO SALABLE COMPONENTS AND THE IDENTIFIABLE PARTS NO LONGER EXIST. NEW IDENTITIES HAVE BEEN CREATED FOR STRIPPED CARS, FREQUENTLY BY RETITLING. METHODS OF RETITLING STOLEN VEHICLES INCLUDE THE 'SALVAGE SWITCH,' ALTERED OR STOLEN VEHICLES IDENTIFICATION NUMBERS, AND THE USE OF FRAUDULENT DOCUMENTS. THE FOLLOWING AREAS OF WEAKNESS IN THE TITLING AND REGISTRATION PROCESS ARE ANALYZED GENERALLY, SINCE EACH STATE HAS ITS OWN TITLING AND REGISTRATION PROCESS: INTAKE AND PROCESSING (FEW STATES EMPLOY PROCEDURES TO REVIEW AND INSPECT DOCUMENTS FOR EVIDENCE OF FORGERY, ETC.), VERIFICATION OF VEHICLE IDENTITY, SALVAGE VEHICLE AND DOCUMENT PROCESS (CERTIFICATES ISSUED TO REBUILT SALVAGE VEHICLES DO NOT INDICATE THE PREVIOUS PHYSICAL CONDITION OF THE VEHICLES, ETC.), AND LACK OF DOCUMENT UNIFORMITY AND SECURITY. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVING THE TITLE AND REGISTRATION PROCESS ARE SUGGESTED REGARDING THE PHYSICAL INSPECTION OF VEHICLES, SEIZURE OF VEHICLES AND PARTS, DOCUMENT INTAKE AND INSPECTION, CONFIRMATION OF VALID TITLE, SALVAGE VEHICLE AND DOCUMENT CONTROL, AND VERIFICATION OF FOREIGN TITLE. ALSO, REGULATION OF WRECKERS, DISMANTLERS, AND SALVAGE YARDS, A PRACTICE SUCCESSFULLY APPLIED IN ILLINOIS, IS URGED. OTHER TOPICS ADDRESSED INCLUDE THE USE OF THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER, INSURANCE FRAUD, ANTI-CAR-THEFT COMMITTEES, AND EXPORTED STOLEN VEHICLES. FINALLY, DISCUSSION CONCLUDES WITH SOME FEDERAL RESPONSES TO AUTO THEFT (THE PROPOSED DYER ACT MODIFICATIONS AND THE MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT PREVENTION ACT) AND MANUFACTURERS' RESPONSES TO THE PROBLEM (COMPONENT IDENTIFICATION AND SECURITY SYSTEMS). FOOTNOTES, SOME STATISTICAL AND TABULAR DATA, A GLOSSARY OF TERMS, AND A SALVAGE CERTIFICATE FORM ARE PROVIDED. A LIST OF RESOURCE PERSONS AND ORGANIZATIONS IS APPENDED. (WJR)