7-329 - Motor Vehicle Theft Reports

CAPRS Offense/Incident Codes:

• AUTOTH: To be used for motor vehicle thefts involving vehicles licensed to be driven on streets/roadways.
• MVTHFT: To be used for motor vehicle thefts involving vehicles not licensed to be driven on streets/roadways. (Examples: 3-wheelers, garden tractors, snowmobiles, golf carts, gators, some scooters and construction equipment.)

The following procedures shall apply when the victim will prosecute for the theft of a motor vehicle: 

1. Upon receiving a request to take a police report for a motor vehicle theft the Officer shall first ascertain whether the Auto Desk is aware of the matter before completing a report.
2. A police report titled AUTOTH or MVTHFT shall be completed immediately if the information provided by the person reporting indicates the vehicle is stolen. (See Breach of Trust, 7-336.04.)
3. If the person reporting names or identifies a suspect, the officer shall attempt to determine whether the suspect had lawful access to the vehicle. An AUTOTH or MVTHFT report will not be taken if the suspect had lawful access to the vehicle. (See Breach of Trust, 7-336.04.)
4. After the AUTOTH or MVTHFT report is completed, the officer shall notify the Auto Desk with the assigned Case Control Number (CCN).
5. The AutoDesk shall make the entry into NCIC.

The following procedure shall apply when the victim will not prosecute for the theft of a motor vehicle:

1. The responding officer shall refer the case to the Auto Desk as a ‘locate’ only. 
2. No reports are required.

If a vehicle is stolen during the commission of another offense, the AUTOTH or MVTHFT shall be reported on the same police report, in order of the most serious offenses.

Recovery of Stolen Vehicles

All recovered stolen vehicles shall have a CAPRS report entitled RECVEH and a tow sheet completed, regardless of the originating jurisdiction. This includes recovered vehicles missing the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), license plates, or both; as well as vehicles that have been significantly stripped.

The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) entered on all reports shall be obtained directly from the vehicle.

In situations where an arrest takes place prior to the vehicle being reported as a ‘Minneapolis Stolen’ vehicle, and the arresting officers also take the AUTOTH or MVTHFT report, the CAPRS report shall then be entitled #1 AUTOTH or MVTHFT and #2 RECVEH.

A new CCN with a completed RECVEH CAPRS police report shall be done for all other incidents involving recovered stolen vehicles, referencing the original AUTOTH or MVTHFT CCN. This is necessary to track locations where stolen vehicles have been recovered.

If the motor vehicle theft occurred in another jurisdiction, that agency shall make the motor vehicle theft report.

Arrests/Case Control Numbers

Stolen Vehicle – Minneapolis

• The charge listed on the arrest report for a person arrested in control of a ‘Minneapolis Stolen’ vehicle shall be AUTOTH, MVTHFT, or R&C.
• The CCN from the original AUTOTH or MVTHFT report shall be included in the space “Original CCN” on the RECVEH report.
• The original CCN for the AUTOTH or MVTHFT can be obtained from the MDC NCIC screen following the letters ‘OCA.’

Stolen Vehicle - From Another Jurisdiction

• The charge listed on the arrest report for a person arrested in Minneapolis, in control of a stolen vehicle from another jurisdiction shall be STOLMV (Stolen Motor Vehicle) or R&C.
• The other jurisdiction’s CCN (OCA) and city shall be included in the narrative section of the RECVEH report.