Forensic Investigation of Stolen-Recovered and Other Crime-Related Vehicles

Forensic Investigation of Stolen-Recovered and Other Crime-Related Vehicles provides unique and detailed insights into the investigations of one of the most common crime scenes in the world.

In addition to a thorough treatment of auto theft, the book covers vehicles involved in other forms of crime—dealing extensively with the various procedures and dynamics of evidence as it might be left in any crime scene.

An impressive collection of expert contributors covers a wide variety of subjects, including chapters on vehicle identification, examination of burned vehicles, vehicles recovered from under water, vehicles involved in terrorism, vehicle tracking, alarms, anti-theft systems, steering columns, and ignition locks. The book also covers such topics as victim and witness interviews, public and private auto theft investigations, detection of trace evidence and chemical traces, vehicle search techniques, analysis of automotive fluids, vehicle registration, document examination, and vehicle crime mapping.

It is the ultimate reference guide for any auto theft investigator, crime scene technician, criminalist, police investigator, criminologist, or insurance adjuster.

Extensively researched and exceptionally well-written by internationally-recognized experts in auto theft investigation and forensic scienceAll the principles explained in the text are well-illustrated and demonstrated with more than 450 black and white and about 100 full-color illustrations, many directly from real casesServes as both a valuable reference guide to the professional and an effective teaching tool for the forensic science student

1 - The Problem of Auto-Theft
Mikel Longman

2 - Victim and Witness Interviews and Collection of Circumstantial Information
Jean-François Chevalley
Manuel Poza

3 - General Crime Scene Considerations and Documentation
Moira Johnson
Simone Reynolds

4 – Forensic Examination of Stolen-Recovered Vehicles
Part I: Technical Examination and General Forensic Traces
Marc Demierre
Part II: Chemical Traces - Drugs, Explosives, and Gunshot Residue
Francesco Saverio Romolo

5 - Traces and their Evidentiary Values
Éric Stauffer

6 - Vehicle Identification
William T. Smylie


7 - Restoration of Serial Numbers
Dr. Horst Katterwe

8 - Anti-Theft Systems
Robert F. Mangine

9 - Examination of Steering Columns and Ignition Locks
Robert F. Mangine

10 - Examination of Vehicle Keys
Emmanuel Fivaz
Monica Bonfanti

11 - Analysis of Vehicle Fluids
Éric Stauffer

12 - Examination of Burned Vehicles
Éric Stauffer

13 - Examination of Vehicles Recovered Underwater
Jean-François Voillot

14 - Examination of Vehicle License Plates
Didier Brossier

15 - Examination of Vehicle Registration Documents
Diana Ombelli

16 - Vehicle Searching Procedures
Stéphane Kummer

17 - Examination of Vehicles Involved in Terrorism
Greg Terp

18 - Investigation from the Public Side
Greg Terp

19 - Investigation from the Private Side
Part I: The European Perspective
Marc Stauffer
Part II: The US Perspective
Glenn Wheeler

20 - Vehicle Tracking
Greg Terp

21 - Vehicle Crime Mapping
Jerry Ratcliffe

22 - International Collaboration Through Interpol
Alain G. Barbier