Raise the Level of Awareness and Understanding of the Importance of Vehicle Crimes
Raise the Level of Awareness and Understanding of the Importance of Vehicle Crimes
Submitted by: Vehicle Crimes Committee
VCC.016.t2017
WHEREAS, it is necessary to educate law enforcement executives, their departments, and the general public as to the importance of and connection between vehicle crime and subsequent violent crime; and
WHEREAS, this awareness is important in order to prevent violent crime sprees and their repercussions and to ignite support vital to the sustainability and longevity of auto theft investigative and prosecutorial units across the globe; and
WHEREAS, law enforcement needs to re-engage internal and external audiences in order to highlight crimes that have a tremendous impact on our communities; and
WHEREAS, there must be a joint effort put forth to detect and thwart such crimes; and
WHEREAS, there are four focus areas, to include (1) articulating the connection between auto theft and violent crime, (2) preserving and encouraging funding for auto theft and vehicle crime, (3) defining the understanding of vehicle crimes and their impact, and (4) engaging in predictive policing, community awareness, and hardening targets; and
WHEREAS, there is a need to clearly define the crime for law enforcement and the public for accurate use and understanding and to encourage use of the term; and
WHEREAS, a definition of vehicle crime suggests any crime involving the theft as a whole or parts; fraudulent sale, purchase, insurance or identification; or burglary of a car, truck, motorcycle tractor trailer, ATV, heavy equipment, any other motorized vehicle, or its cargo or contents; and
WHEREAS, law enforcement executives should use the term "vehicle crimes" and understand why they should use it within their agencies and within their communities; and
WHEREAS, national awareness of the importance of vehicle crime as it relates to community safety and the larger picture of predictive policing be implemented; and
WHEREAS, police executives should understand how auto theft and vehicle crimes drive other crimes in their jurisdictions; and
WHEREAS, armed with information based on accurate data, crime control strategies can be developed; and
WHEREAS, such strategies can be the catalyst in the prevention of auto theft, which often is the precursor to other serious and violent crimes; and
WHEREAS, additional strategies include treating auto crimes seriously by directing patrol officers to take full and complete reports; while on patrol, paying attention to indicators of stolen vehicle activity; and providing investigative expertise and resources to quickly follow up on reports of vehicle theft and related crimes; and
WHEREAS, agencies need to actively engage the public in crime prevention efforts and in efforts to change behavior and instill prevention habits, e.g., "Lock your car - take your keys - every time"; and
RESOLVED, that the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) calls upon police executives, crime prevention officers, and public information officers need to emphasize the fact that a stolen vehicle was used to commit a crime and show tangible reasons why the public should pay attention to preventing auto theft; and
FURTHER RESOLVED, the IACP encourages police executives lead the way, as the rank and file, and the community, need to see visible signs of support from the top; and
FURTHER RESOLVED, the IACP calls upon police executives to support auto theft initiatives in the budgeting process and engage community, corporate, and other governmental agencies in the effort; and
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the IACP calls upon police executives to raise awareness and understanding of vehicle crimes.