Upon the receipt of a call alleging a motor vehicle theft the officer will:

  1. Contact Ramsey County Emergency Communication Center (RCECC) data channel to determine if the vehicle may have been towed by a private contractor or repossessed.
  2. Prepare an original report.
  3. Enter the property as stolen using the Evidence Manger.
  4. Upon the completion of the call by the field units, place necessary administrative data on the complaint memo and forward to the records unit.
  5. Contact RCECC data for entering the vehicle as a stolen in the NCIC system.

Notification of RCECC:

Upon receipt of a stolen auto call from the RCECC or on tour notification from a citizen, the officer will proceed to the location of the call or the alleged theft location and prepare a report following the procedure as set forth in the report writing manual, even when the car was recovered at the same time.

If the auto has been stolen, the officer preparing the auto theft report will notify the RCECC of the theft promptly by phone, giving the following information to be entered into NCIC:

  •  License number of the car
  •  Year and type
  •  Serial number, VIN
  •  Make, year, model, and color
  •  Record owner s address, phone number
  •  Location of theft
  •  Complaint number

Stolen vehicle information and the notification of RCECC about the stolen auto information must be documented in an original police report.

The reporting officer will decide and instruct RCECC whether the vehicle should be broadcast as a stolen or as a stop and identify in the case of a breach of trust. Under questionable cases, or cases lacking information, the auto theft unit will verify if a vehicle is to be considered a stolen auto. Sufficient information for a broadcast via radio and electronic methods would be year, color, model, and license number. Officers will prepare an original report even if the complaint is lacking some information and instruct the complainant to contact the auto theft unit with the additional information.

Auto Theft- Notification of Registered Owners

In all cases when a stolen auto is recovered, the officer shall ensure that RCECC has attempted to contact the registered owner when a phone number is listed in the NCIC comments. Registered owners shall be given the option to recover their vehicle within a reasonable amount of time in lieu of automatic impoundment.

 Auto Theft Recoveries-Towed to the Impound Lot:

A recovered stolen vehicle represents a crime scene and therefore will be processed by only sworn police officers or personnel from the forensic services unit.

Sworn police officer recovering stolen vehicles will:

  1. Thoroughly search all vehicles for suspect evidence, turning in all contraband, weapons, and valuables discovered.
  2. Enter the recovered vehicle in the Tow Manager prior to the vehicle reaching the impound lot.
  3. If the license plates have been removed from the recovered vehicle, officers will document the plates are stolen in the recovery report and notify RCECC of the stolen plates for NCIC entry.
  4. Notify the emergency communication center of the recovery identifying the recoveries by license number, make and model and location of recovery.
  5. If the auto is missing major parts (stripped) it will be towed to the impound lot and missing parts and damages noted in report.
  6. "Holds for auto theft should only be placed on a vehicle for evidentiary purposes other than fingerprinting and/or photographing that can t be taken care of on the street.

Auto Theft Recoveries - Arrests:

Sworn police officers recovering a stolen vehicle with suspect(s) will:

  1. Positively identify all occupants in the stolen vehicle whether or not they are taken into custody or arrested.
  2. Interview the occupants to ascertain their knowledge of the stolen vehicle, including the driver's identity, any knowledge of the vehicle being stolen and other pertinent information to assist the investigator.
  3. Note in their report occupants' positions in the vehicle.

Auto Theft Recoveries - Turned Over to the Owner:

A recovered stolen vehicle represents a crime scene and therefore will be processed by only sworn police officers or personnel from the Forensic Services Unit.

Sworn police officers recovering stolen vehicles to be turned over to the owner at the scene of the recovery will:

  1. Thoroughly search all vehicles for suspect evidence, turning in all contraband, weapons, and valuables discovered.
  2. Enter the recovered vehicle as recovered and turned over to the owner in the Evidence Manager.
  3. If the license plates have been removed from the recovered vehicle, officers will document the plates are stolen in the recovery report and notify RCECC of the stolen plates for NCIC entry.
  4. Notify the emergency communication center of the recovery identifying the auto by license number, make and model and location of recovery.

RCECC:

The officer will notify the RCECC so their personnel can broadcast a cancellation and call a contract tow company for the vehicle if it is not turned over to the owner.

Recoveries Out of City:

Upon receipt of information about a Saint Paul stolen vehicle recovered out of city, the investigator will write a supplemental report that includes:

  •  Administrative data.
  •  The date and the location of the recovery.
  •  The agency that made the recovery.
  •  If the vehicle has been impounded, if so, where.
  •  The condition of the vehicle.
  •  If any arrest has been made, juvenile or adult.
  •  The name of the authority authorizing the cancellations.

Auto Theft Unit:

The auto theft unit will prepare a supplement report and note these changes in RMS, when necessary, when any change is made not already documented in the case status of an auto theft incident. (See General Order 439.01: Property and Evidence Procedures and General Order 445.00: Towing and Storage Procedures/Authority)

Updated February 1, 2019

Last Edited: March 4, 2019