FWPD Stolen Vehicle Policy

• This policy establishes written guidelines for the Fort Wayne Police Department regarding stolen vehicles as of August 18, 2021.

Policy

• Fort Wayne Police Department will follow specific procedures when a vehicle is reported stolen or recovered as well as for recovered (lost or stolen) bicycles.

Stolen Vehicle Reports

• An officer will be dispatched to make a stolen vehicle report and get a control number for the report.
• The owner can file a stolen vehicle report.
• If the vehicle owner is unavailable, an officer can take a report if the owner is aware of the theft and gives permission, with proper identification, for a 3rd party to sign on their behalf.
• A complainant with power of attorney or legal authority may file the report without the owner's consent.
• If the complainant can't prove ownership or reach the owner, they'll be sent to the Detective Bureau to file an Attempt To Locate (ATL).
• Once a stolen vehicle report is made, it must be immediately given to the Records Section or called in on Records Channel for entry into IDACS/NCIC and turned in at the end of an officer's tour of duty.

Car Dealers (Test Drives)

• Dealers need a signed agreement with the customer stating when the vehicle is to be returned.
• The dealer must record all driver's license information, current address, and phone number.

Car Dealers (Vehicle Stolen From Inventory)

• Dealers must check their entire inventory before reporting a vehicle theft.
• Dealers must check with employees to confirm the vehicle wasn't loaned out or sent for repair.

Leased or Rented Vehicles

• Lease holders, renters, or employers must try to contact the vehicle user to get the vehicle back.
• Every alternate rental location must be checked to verify that the vehicle was not dropped off.
• Complainants must send a Certified Return Receipt Requested Letter to the last known address of the renter or employee, giving them 72 hours to return the vehicle before it is reported stolen; A copy of the letter and certified receipt should be attached to the report.
• This section doesn't prevent the person who is leasing/renting the vehicle from reporting it stolen.

Loaned Vehicles

• Loaned vehicles are not immediately treated as stolen vehicles, it is initially a civil matter.
• Prepare an incident report and take an Attempt To Locate(ATL), but do not prepare a Stolen Vehicle Report.
• The ATL is active for 72 hours.
• If the vehicle isn't returned, an Auto Theft Detective will determine if a stolen vehicle report can be filed after the complainant makes contact with the Vehicle Theft Section of the DB (Tx 427-1201) after the ATL expires.
• An officer needs independent legal justification for a traffic stop of an ATL vehicle.
• The ATL alone isn't enough to stop the vehicle.
• Officers need a good faith belief of an infraction/ordinance violation, reasonable suspicion of criminal activity, or probable cause for arrest.
• An officer returning/recovering an ATL vehicle when it is parked and/or unoccupied is not precluded.

Domestic Problems

• A vehicle is not stolen if the complainant is married to the suspect.
• If the complainant and suspect live or have lived together and shared vehicle use, the vehicle is not stolen; An ATL report may be made.

Vehicle Taken With Keys

• If keys are used to steal a vehicle, determine how the suspect got the keys and if they were taken without the owner's knowledge or permission which must be documented in the report.
• If the suspect used the vehicle previously, take an ATL only, not a stolen report and direct the complainant to the Auto Theft Section for assistance.

Stolen Vehicle Recovery With Apprehension

• With an apprehension on a stolen vehicle (car, truck, motorcycle), take at least four (4) photos:
  • One of the rear showing the license plate.
  • One to identify the recovery location (street sign, address).
  • One of the vehicle identification number.
  • One of the steering column and any additional photos that may be requested.
• The investigating officer decides if the vehicle is to be towed or released to the owner.
• A signed Stolen Vehicle Recovery form is needed if the vehicle is released to the owner, but no property receipt is required.
• If an apprehension is made, complete a miscellaneous report and contact the Detective Bureau.
• If used in a crime, tow the vehicle to the Crime Scene impound area for processing, as decided by the investigating officer (patrol officer or detective).
• Document vehicle recovery under the original stolen vehicle control number.
• If dispatch issued a new control number, link it to the original stolen vehicle report.
• If the stolen vehicle was reported in another jurisdiction, issue a new control number and file all reports under it.

Stolen Vehicle Found and Abandoned

• If a stolen vehicle is found abandoned and used in a crime, tow it to the Crime Scene impound area for processing, as determined by the investigating officer (patrol officer or detective).
• Otherwise, the officer finding the vehicle may tow or return it to the owner, filling out a Stolen Vehicle Recovery form and forwarding it to the Auto Theft Section.
• If the recovered stolen vehicle cannot be immediately turned over to the owner, complete an Inventory/Tow form and take the vehicle to the proper tow lot.
• Turn in all recovery forms to the Records Section immediately or call them in on Records Channel for cancellation through IDACS/NCIC, then turn them in at the end of the officer's tour of duty.
• Document the vehicle recovery under the original stolen vehicle control number.
• If dispatch issued a new control number, link it to the original stolen vehicle report.
• For vehicles stolen in another jurisdiction, issue a new control number and file all reports under it.

Recovered Bicycles (Lost/Stolen)

• Between 0800 – 1600 weekdays:
  • A citizen reports to the police desk that a bicycle has been found.
  • The desk person relays all information to Communications.
  • A dispatcher dispatches a Parking Control employee in a truck to make the pick-up.
  • A control number is generated at the time of dispatch, and the Parking Control employee records it on an FWPD Continuity Form.
  • Transport the form and bicycle to the designated storage area in the basement of the POC and secured.
  • Officers who find a bicycle during these hours contact a Parking Control Officer to make the pick-up.
• Between 1600 – 0800 daily and during holidays and weekends:
  • Officers finding bicycles request a Street Department vehicle to dispatch to the location for pick-up.
  • The Street Department employee brings the bicycle to the POC, where the police officer takes it to the basement level and secures it.
  • A police supervisor obtains the combination code for securing the bicycle and ensures a miscellaneous report and Continuity Report are filed by the reporting officer.
• An Investigative/Support Division Property Room specialist checks the POC secured location storage areas weekly, retrieves Continuity Reports, and performs a local stolen check on the bicycle.
• The specialist enters bicycle information into the Evidence Module of the Spillman System and sends a copy of the Continuity Form to the Records Section.
• Records Section employees perform a stolen check on the bicycle and contact the Property Room specialist with pertinent information if it returns as stolen, then file the Continuity Record by control number.
• Police officers will not transport bicycles in the trunk of squad cars to prevent damage to video, radio, computer, or other equipment.