Seattle Police Manual

15.190 – Theft and Recovery of Vehicle, License Plates, or License Tabs

Effective Date: 5/16/2012

15.190-POL

1. Use the Vehicle Report for Stolen Vehicles and Plates

Officers shall use the Vehicle Report (form 5.5), when reporting:

• Theft of a vehicle, where the suspect is unknown to the victim, and the vehicle has not been ‘loaned’ to any party,
  

• Theft of one or both license plates,
  

• Attempted theft of a vehicle,
  

• Recovery of a stolen vehicle or plates, and
  

2. Complete a General Offense Report for Stolen Tabs

For the theft of license plate tabs only, officers will complete a General Offense Report (G.O.).

3. Complete Two Reports for Combined Crimes

When a vehicle theft is included in another crime, complete a Vehicle Report and a G.O. under the same G.O. Number.

4. Screen Certain Cases With the Auto Theft Unit

In some situations, Officers will refer complainants to contact the Auto Theft Unit rather than complete a stolen vehicle report. Refer complainants to the Auto Theft unit when:

• The complainant knows who has the vehicle.
  

• The complainant’s child (juvenile or adult) took the vehicle. This also applies to family members over whom the complainant assumes a parent/guardian role and family members living in the same household.
  

If the situation warrants a missing person/runaway report, list the vehicle information in the narrative of that report.

• A rental car company is the complainant. This includes short term usage companies such as FlexCar and ZipCar.
  

5. If Necessary, Officers may contact the Auto Theft Sergeant

Call 206-684-8948 or via the Chief Dispatcher after hours.

6. If the Complainant Insists on Receiving a Case Number, Write a G.O. Entitled “Suspicious Circumstance”

7. Officer Will Impound Recovered Vehicles Only in Certain Instances

If the Communications Section cannot contact the owner or the owner cannot respond, officers will impound recovered vehicles originally reported stolen in Seattle if:

• The owner authorized the impound,
  

• The vehicle poses an immediate hazard, or
  

• It is illegally parked as described in SMC 11.30.040.
  

If none of the above applies, officers may leave the vehicle legally parked with the owner’s copy of the Vehicle Report.

Officers may also release the vehicle to another person specifically by the owner

8. Use Original G.O. Number for SPD Stolens

If a vehicle is originally reported stolen in Seattle and it is recovered in Seattle, officers will use the original G.O. Number for the recovery.

9. Impound Vehicles Stolen Outside the City

Immediately impound vehicles recovered in the city that were reported stolen outside the city. Obtain a new G.O. number for the Vehicle Report.

15.190-PRO-1 Officer Taking Report of Stolen Vehicle, Plates, or Tabs

Communications Section

1. Receives call from complainant.

2. Completes the Preliminary Vehicle Report (Greenie).

a. If this is not done before the officer is dispatched, the officer will call in this information after step 5.

3. Dispatches officer to take the report.

Officer

4. Interviews complainant.

5a. If the case falls under 15.190-POL, Section 4, refers complainant to the Auto Theft Unit at 206-684-8940 or SPDAutoTheft@seattle.gov.

OR

5b. Completes the Vehicle Report.

If only tabs are stolen, completes a G.O. instead of the Vehicle Report.

6. Advises Radio that the officer has a “signed stolen”.

Communications Section

7. Enters the vehicle into WACIC/NCIC as stolen based on the information on the Greenie.

15.190-TSK-1 Officer Completing the Vehicle Report

After deciding to complete a Vehicle Report the officer:

1. Completes the front of the form.

2. Includes all of the vehicle’s identifying information.

2a. If the complainant does not know the license plate number, and the officer cannot locate it using the VIN, the officer writes “unknown” in the license plate box

3. Instructs the reporting party to read, initial, and sign the back of the original.

4. Instructs the reporting party to select and initial one of two impound options.

5. Gives the pink copy to the complainant.

15.190-PRO-2 Officer Recovering a Stolen Vehicle

Officer

1. Locates stolen vehicle either by on-view or radio dispatch.

2. Contacts the Communications Section to verify the vehicle as stolen, and report the number of plates on the vehicle and if it is drivable.

Communications Section

3. Verifies the vehicle as stolen and removes it from WACIC/NCIC as stolen.

4. Relays the verification to the requesting officer.

5. Contacts the victim to have victim respond to the scene and reclaim the vehicle.

Officer

6. Completes a vehicle report to document the condition of the vehicle and circumstances of the recovery.

7a. Impounds the vehicle in accordance with Seattle Police Manual Section 6.120 - Impounding Vehicles

OR

7b. Releases the vehicle to an authorized person

OR

7c. Leaves the vehicle parked with the owner’s copy of the Vehicle Report.