The IAATI Award of Merit

From September 2021, until September 2022, Detective Soares led an intensive criminal investigation into an auto theft network who were involved in the theft and fencing of high-end motor vehicles, burglary, altering of vehicle identification numbers, fraud involving COVID-19 Paycheck Protection Program relief, mail theft, bank fraud, and other crimes. 
Beginning in September 2021, Detective Soares was alerted to a monitor social media account of a known thief who was sharing images and videos of a newer model Cadillac Escalade that was in the upper level of a flooded parking garage in Bloomfield, New Jersey.  MVCNU members were actively attempting to locate a stolen 2022 Cadillac Escalade ($104,193) from a dealership in Woodbridge, New Jersey, and believed the vehicle observed on social media was the same one.  Detective Soares canvassed the parking garage in Bloomfield and located a newer model Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk ($89,063) and a Dodge Charger SRT ($85,829).  Detective Soares relied on his training and experience in auto theft and vehicle identification and was able to determine the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk and Dodge Charger SRT were in fact stolen vehicles with altered VINs.  Detective Soares then found a stolen Dodge Challenger Hellcat ($107,000) in the same location several days later.  Detective Soares installed signal monitoring and tracking devices on all three vehicles and obtained court authorization to monitor the stolen vehicles’ movements.  
While investigating the theft of these vehicles, Detective Soares was able to determine that they were all missing a key fob when they were delivered to their respective dealerships in the region.  Dealership personnel didn’t know that the missing key fobs were suspicious and just coded a second key fob for the vehicles.  Shortly after the vehicles were sold to unsuspecting buyers, the vehicles were stolen from their residences and there were no signs of forced entry and the owners were able to account for all of their key fobs.  Detective Soares quickly evaluated the theft method and surmised that the missing keys were not a coincidence and the theft crew fabricated a new scheme to steal these vehicles.  Detective Soares worked with the New Jersey Coalition of Automotive Retails and broadcasted an alert to every new car dealership employee in New Jersey asking them to contact MVCNU members if these types of vehicles were delivered with only one key.  Detective Soares’ outreach to the New Jersey vehicle dealer network effectuated change to their security protocol and undoubtedly prevented the theft of an untold number of vehicles.  
In November 2021, Detective Soares observed that the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk was traveling southbound on the New Jersey Turnpike and that the signal monitoring and tracking device on the vehicle was not reporting an accurate position.  The Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk traveled to Baltimore, Maryland.  Detective Soares, who has worked closely with the Baltimore County Regional Auto Theft Task Force in the past, was able to coordinate the arrest of a suspect who was in possession of the stolen Jeep in Baltimore, Maryland.  A military grade signal jammer was found in the Jeep which prevented the signal monitoring and tracking device from providing an exact position.  The Dodge Charger Hellcat was later recovered while enroute to St. Louis, Missouri, and the Dodge Challenger was recovered in New Jersey.  Detective Soares worked closely with Special Agents from the FBI who were seeing a similar theft pattern in Long Island, New York, and identified the use of Apple Inc., AirTags that were concealed within the stolen vehicles.  It’s not often that a new auto theft method is developed and implemented by theft crews. It’s even rarer that a detective would be able to evaluate these theft instances and think through possible scenarios in which the new theft method could function, as Detective Soares was able to accomplish. 
Detective Soares authored an article, “AirTags: Integration by Theft Crews, How to Find Them, Investigative Value,” that was published in the International Association of Auto Theft Investigators ‘Vehicle Crimes Today’ and ‘APB.”  In the article, Detective Soares outlines the emerging trend of AirTag use to track vehicles, the way investigators can detect and locate AirTags, and the tremendous amount of information available to investigators from legal process served to Apple Inc.  Detective Soares’ article has been shared throughout the law enforcement community as a valuable resource related to the nefarious use of AirTags by criminals.
Detective Soares then analyzed an infotainment download obtained from the Dodge Charger SRT.  The infotainment download spurned several subpoenas for information related to unidentified targets who connected mobile devices to the vehicle while it was reported stolen.  The information returned from the subpoenas was instrumental in identifying major targets in the conspiracy and opening the door to more advanced investigative resources, specifically, communications data warrants to Apple Inc., requesting iCloud data for those targets. Detective Soares then painstakingly analyzed hundreds of gigabytes of information returned from those warrants and further exploited the criminal enterprise. One of the big developments came when Detective Soares identified the main target accessed two iCloud accounts using the same iPhone.  Included within the download of information was location information and shared information about the use of AirTags within the theft network to locate and steal vehicles with a key fob that was taken from the new vehicle storage lots throughout the Northeast.    
In January 2022, Cadillac of Mahwah management contacted MVCNU members and advised that they received delivery of a 2022 Cadillac Escalade ($150,000) that only had one operational key fob.  MVCNU members traveled to Cadillac of Mahwah and located a suspect AirTag within the vehicle.  Detective Soares’ investigative plan included convincing dealership ownership to allow MVCNU members to use the 2022 Cadillac Escalade as a “bait” car.  With permission from the dealership, the 2022 Cadillac Escalade was outfitted with a covert law enforcement surveillance camera, signal monitoring and tracking devices, and the ignition was disabled to prevent the vehicle from driving.  Detective Soares then had the vehicle towed to a residential parking lot in Hunterdon County and deployed a covert automated license plate reader to capture license plates of vehicles entering the area.  MVCNU members initiated constant physical surveillance in the area of the 2022 Cadillac Escalade and identified a suspect vehicle as it traveled to Hunterdon County and attempted to steal the 2022 Cadillac Escalade before fleeing from the area.  This successful operation helped to identify the targets involved in this ground breaking theft motive.  
Detective Soares was also able to identify that the main target of his investigation was deeply involved in falsifying auto loans to obtain new vehicles from dealerships while routing proceeds through shell companies.  The main target also used these shell companies to fraudulently obtain COVID-19 Paycheck Protection Program relief.  
In May 2022, the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office authorized charges for the main target which included Promoting Street Crimes, a first degree crime, Leader of an Auto Theft Network, a second degree crime, Receiving Stolen Property, a second degree crime, stalking, a fourth degree crime, and other crimes.  Seven other targets were also identified and charged for their involvement in this expansive criminal investigation.   Detective Soares was able to identify approximately 120 stolen motor vehicles that were tied to this criminal organization with an approximate value of $8 million.
It is clear that Detective Ross Soares should be recognized for his efforts and investigative excellence.  This year-long investigation wouldn’t have been a success without Detective Soares’ investigative techniques, case management, training, experience, ingenuity, and tremendous determination. 

IAATI’s Award of Merit was created in 1992 to honor a person, group, department or company for outstanding contribution in the area of vehicle theft investigation or prevention.

Our 2022 winner of the Award of Merit is Deputy Commissioner of the Province of Chubut, Argentina Sebastian Martin Bevilacqua.

Deputy Commissioner Bevilacqua unfortunately was not able to join us in Chicago. He was in a motor vehicle accident and thankfully, is now recovering. Accepting on his behalf was Mr. Daniel Beck, President of the LatAm Branch.

A joint operation in Trelew, capital city of Chubut, involved the Dangerous Drugs Division and the Motor Vehicle Theft Division as they conducted a series of effective investigations into car sale scams and organized theft rings. A total of 70 seizures (including cars and motorbikes) were made after multiple investigations, raids of garages, bodywork and paint shops, and places where cars were sold and purchased. According to police sources, these raids yielded 200 vehicle parts, including alternators, hoods, doors, windshields, carburetors, semi-assembled engines, engine blocks, tailgates plus cutting tools, grinders and loosening tools used for the theft and disassembly of vehicles. These investigators also managed to dismantle a criminal organization dedicated to stealing cars by using copies of ignition keys or with stolen keys. This group proved to be a “cell" focused on stealing vehicles to subsequently perpetrate criminal acts. In a high-profile operation, police in Chubut conducted over 20 raids leading to 7 arrests and the dismantling of a gang of swindlers involving a former Trelew police commissioner. Deputy Commissioner Sebastian Martin Bevilacqua is to be commended for his leadership of these highly successful operations and his units’ consistent and effective use of multiple investigative techniques with outstanding results, despite limited resources. 

Detective Joel Hoskins and Detective Kyle Taylor of the Criminal Investigations Division for the Slidell Police Department, both of assigned to Burglary Investigations, were assigned a case in which a local dealership was a victim of an overnight theft. Matt Bowers Chevrolet reported that 31 vehicles had tires and wheels, valued at approximately $125,000, stolen from them at the dealership. The manager of the dealership discovered the theft on Saturday morning, April 27, 2019. It appeared that the thieves were no amateurs. They defeated locks, alarms and surveillance video, and went as far as manipulating the exterior lights in the parking lot so they could work in the dark of the night, completely undetected.

Upon receiving the case, Detectives Hoskins and Taylor began going through the evidence and taking calls from citizens who wanted to assist by providing information on the case. Detectives had a description of a vehicle that was on video at the scene of the crime, but did not have any immediate traceable identifiers, other than a “Viking” picture on the side of a U-Haul vehicle. Detectives received a call from East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office detectives who had previously worked a similar case. Those detectives shared information on what they found while working on their case. Through the state license plate reader program (LPR) and with the assistance of the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office, detectives were able to locate a matching vehicle with a Viking on the side of the U-Haul and a second vehicle (a red Toyota Corolla) that appeared to be a “chase vehicle”. Using this information, detectives took the time to trace both vehicles along I-10 to Houston, Texas. The detectives then built a timeline on the vehicles, tracking them, through the LPR system, from Houston to Slidell, and then back to Houston, all within 24 hours. Taking the license plate information from the vehicles, detectives traced both vehicles to rental stores in the Houston area. The detectives contacted both rental stores for the vehicles and matched the mileage before and after rentals to the path taken along I-10/I-12 from Houston to Slidell and back to Houston. During the investigation with the rental car stores, detectives were able to obtain name information on the 2 female renters of the vehicles, in addition to information from a service call on one of the vehicles at a Home Depot in the Houston area. Detectives contacted the Home Depot where the vehicle was serviced and spoke to the loss prevention personnel, who were able to provide video of two men who not only were in control of the U-Haul, but also purchased landscaping timbers that matched landscaping timbers left on the scene of the Matt Bowers theft.

Detectives began to trace the 2 women who had rented the U-Haul and the “chase vehicle” Hertz rental, both of whom are from the Houston area. As this was being researched, Detective Taylor began to trace a floor jack that was left on the scene of the theft at Matt Bowers Chevrolet. Detective Taylor was able to match the brand of jack to the exact make and model sold at Harbor Freight Tools. Detective Taylor then went to the Harbor Freight Tools store in Slidell and was able to locate a jack, on the sales floor, with a serial number that was only one digit off from the serial number of the jack left on the scene of the dealership theft. The store was not able to provide any video or sales transactions, but, statistically, the odds were in favor of that jack being purchased at the Slidell store. Detectives Hoskins and Taylor traveled to Houston and met with Houston Police Department Auto Theft/Gang Task Force members to assist them with this case. While working with the Houston PD Task Force, researching social media and following up on “call-ins”, the detectives were able to connect 2 suspects to two males that matched the two males in the Home Depot video. These males, subsequently surfaced as suspects of the crime. After conducting physical surveillance, reviewing Houston Police data base research, cell phone data dumps, social media research, anonymous calls, and store video pulls, arrest warrants were submitted for the arrest of the suspects. Before the detectives left Houston, the Houston Police Department assisted with the arrest of one of the suspects. Recently, with the help of the U.S. Marshall’s Service, another suspect was placed under arrest. Warrants are still active for the two females. Detectives Hoskins and Taylor are still following leads for others possibly involved in the case.

During the preliminary stages of the investigation, the detectives identified at least two similar thefts in Texas and Oklahoma. As the result of this investigation, detectives from San Antonio, began looking into similar thefts in that area. They were able to link these suspects to those thefts, and arrest warrants were issued.

Congratulations to Detectives Joel Hoskins and Kyle Taylor of the Slidell PD for their
outstanding work and for winner the IAATI Award of Merit.

2020 Award of Merit Winners - Congratulations to Detectives Joel Hoskins and Kyle Taylor of the Slidell PD for their outstanding work and for winner the IAATI Award of Merit.

Detective Joel Hoskins and Detective Kyle Taylor of the Criminal Investigations Division for the Slidell Police Department, both of assigned to Burglary Investigations, were assigned a case in which a local dealership was a victim of an overnight theft. Matt Bowers Chevrolet reported that 31 vehicles had tires and wheels, valued at approximately $125,000, stolen from them at the dealership. The manager of the dealership discovered the theft on Saturday morning, April 27, 2019. It appeared that the thieves were no amateurs. They defeated locks, alarms and surveillance video, and went as far as manipulating the exterior lights in the parking lot so they could work in the dark of the night, completely undetected.

Upon receiving the case, Detectives Hoskins and Taylor began going through the evidence and taking calls from citizens who wanted to assist by providing information on the case. Detectives had a description of a vehicle that was on video at the scene of the crime, but did not have any immediate traceable identifiers, other than a “Viking” picture on the side of a U-Haul vehicle. Detectives received a call from East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office detectives who had previously worked a similar case. Those detectives shared information on what they found while working on their case. Through the state license plate reader program (LPR) and with the assistance of the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office, detectives were able to locate a matching vehicle with a Viking on the side of the U-Haul and a second vehicle (a red Toyota Corolla) that appeared to be a “chase vehicle”. Using this information, detectives took the time to trace both vehicles along I-10 to Houston, Texas. The detectives then built a timeline on the vehicles, tracking them, through the LPR system, from Houston to Slidell, and then back to Houston, all within 24 hours. Taking the license plate information from the vehicles, detectives traced both vehicles to rental stores in the Houston area. The detectives contacted both rental stores for the vehicles and matched the mileage before and after rentals to the path taken along I-10/I-12 from Houston to Slidell and back to Houston. During the investigation with the rental car stores, detectives were able to obtain name information on the 2 female renters of the vehicles, in addition to information from a service call on one of the vehicles at a Home Depot in the Houston area. Detectives contacted the Home Depot where the vehicle was serviced and spoke to the loss prevention personnel, who were able to provide video of two men who not only were in control of the U-Haul, but also purchased landscaping timbers that matched landscaping timbers left on the scene of the Matt Bowers theft.

Detectives began to trace the 2 women who had rented the U-Haul and the “chase vehicle” Hertz rental, both of whom are from the Houston area. As this was being researched, Detective Taylor began to trace a floor jack that was left on the scene of the theft at Matt Bowers Chevrolet. Detective Taylor was able to match the brand of jack to the exact make and model sold at Harbor Freight Tools. Detective Taylor then went to the Harbor Freight Tools store in Slidell and was able to locate a jack, on the sales floor, with a serial number that was only one digit off from the serial number of the jack left on the scene of the dealership theft. The store was not able to provide any video or sales transactions, but, statistically, the odds were in favor of that jack being purchased at the Slidell store. Detectives Hoskins and Taylor traveled to Houston and met with Houston Police Department Auto Theft/Gang Task Force members to assist them with this case. While working with the Houston PD Task Force, researching social media and following up on “call-ins”, the detectives were able to connect 2 suspects to two males that matched the two males in the Home Depot video. These males, subsequently surfaced as suspects of the crime. After conducting physical surveillance, reviewing Houston Police data base research, cell phone data dumps, social media research, anonymous calls, and store video pulls, arrest warrants were submitted for the arrest of the suspects. Before the detectives left Houston, the Houston Police Department assisted with the arrest of one of the suspects. Recently, with the help of the U.S. Marshall’s Service, another suspect was placed under arrest. Warrants are still active for the two females. Detectives Hoskins and Taylor are still following leads for others possibly involved in the case.

During the preliminary stages of the investigation, the detectives identified at least two similar thefts in Texas and Oklahoma. As the result of this investigation, detectives from San Antonio, began looking into similar thefts in that area. They were able to link these suspects to those thefts, and arrest warrants were issued.

Congratulations to Detectives Joel Hoskins and Kyle Taylor of the Slidell PD for their
outstanding work and for winner the IAATI Award of Merit.

Detective Carl Olavesen is a first generation American of Norwegian immigrants. Carl enjoys spending time with his wife and three sons and is an avid outdoorsman.

On November 6, 2016, After 6 years in the patrol division and following assignments with the VICE Unit, the US DEA Task Force, and Underwater Recovery Team, Detective Olavesen was assigned to the Sheriff’s Combined Auto Theft Task Force. As an active member of National Association of Technical Investigators (NATIA), Carl was quick to assist with the technical challenges faced by the Task Force. He was instrumental in the installation of two video tracking systems in our bait vehicles. Carl is also a Certified Instructor and has trained numerous auto theft investigators and patrol deputies in the operation and technology involved in the deployment of the bait vehicles and associated bait property. Carl has written the curriculum for a search warrant class that will become part of the TAVTI curriculum. Over the past year, he also served as a Director for the Central Texas region of TAVTI. Detective Olavesen has also been very active with the State of Texas Legislature by meeting with State Senators and Representatives at the State Capital as a resource and an advocate for the prevention of auto theft and burglary in Texas. 

Since being assigned to Auto Theft, Detective Olavesen has personally been responsible for clearing 539 Motor Vehicle Theft Cases, 176 have been recoveries with a total recovery value of $2,340,016. Additionally, Detective Olavesen has recovered parts and property valued at $321,600. As a direct result of his outstanding work, dedication and commitment he has arrested over 42 suspects for Auto Theft or Burglary of a Motor Vehicle, 27 of which were prolific auto theft offenders. Detective Olavesen has participated in 229 bait operations, conducted 13 salvage yard inspections and conducted over 480 vehicle inspections. 

Beginning in August of 2018 he conducted an investigation into a ring of auto theft suspects and discovered the individuals involved were stealing vehicles and utilizing them to commit human trafficking violations at the Texas border with Mexico. Investigative information led Detective Olavesen to believe there were other suspects involved in a larger conspiracy case. After applying for investigative funds from the National Insurance Crime Bureau, the Task Force, he was able to initiate “Operation DeJaVu”. This investigation is still ongoing, but through investigative leads Detective Olavesen has been able to arrange for the purchase of or recovery of 22 stolen vehicles and parts valued in excess of $750.000.00. Once this investigation is complete we anticipate multiple arrests and additional recoveries. As part of Carl’s past collaborative efforts with the Drug Enforcement Administration there is a strong possibility this case will be adopted federally.

Carl Olavesen has quickly grasped the intricacies of auto theft Investigations. His past experience in narcotics has proven to be an invaluable asset in the arena of auto theft. Carl prides himself on sharing his knowledge and investigative techniques with others. He continually provides guidance, advice and assistance to his peers. Carl works well with his supervisor and has the unique ability to get along with everyone he meets. Carl is truly a dependable person and demonstrates his willingness to go above and beyond throughout the Travis County Sheriff’s Office and outside the department by collaborating with all agencies.

Editor’s note: Congratulations to Detective Carl Olavesen on this well-deserved honor. Unfortunately, Det. Olavesen was unable to be in Glasgow to receive this award.

The above article was submitted by ( Sergeant Richard A. Hale.  Richard A. Hale is a Sergeant with the Sheriff’s Combined Auto Theft Task Force, Travis County Sheriff’s Office.

The IAATI Award of Merit was created in 1992 in order to honor a person, group, department or company in recognition for outstanding contribution in the area of vehicle theft investigation or prevention.   Of the 17 excellent nominations received, one stood out from the crowd, which was the Colorado Beat Auto Theft Through Law Enforcement – South (BATTLE-South) Team.  The award was initially intended to be received by Deputy Scott Stone (El Paso County Sheriffs Office), however, he underwent an emergency surgery procedure due to lingering injuries from a February 5th incident during the night proceeding the award.

The BATTLE-South Team is a vehicle crime task force, composed in 2015, and includes fourteen (14) multi-agency law enforcement partnerships in Southern Colorado.  The BATTLE-South Team has demonstrated innovative and supportive strategies using intelligence-led policing and operational planning. Their specialized attention to vehicle crimes investigations, including chronic offenders, organized enterprises, and complex multi-jurisdictional cases has been proven to be highly successful.  In 2017 alone, BATTLE investigated over 320 criminal case investigations resulting in more than 360 recovered stolen vehicles, valued at over $2.6 million and performed over 130 arrests.  The efforts of BATTLE-South have assisted in the reduction of vehicle crimes in Southern Colorado, which is the only area of Colorado that experienced a reduction of vehicle crimes in 2017.

On February 5th, 2018 the BATTLE-South Team performed a covert operation involving vehicle crimes when they engaged a suspect and, during the arrest procedures, a gun battle ensued.  Although the gun battle resulted in the death of the suspect, it also included the injury to a bystander and significant harm to the BATTLE-South Team. Of the ten members of the BATTLE-South Team, three were injured by gunfire and a fourth member was killed in the line of duty. 

This award acknowledges the efforts and sacrifice of the BATTLE-South Team and their dedication to serve and protect the citizens against vehicle crimes:

·        Detective Micah Flick

·        Deputy Scott Stone

·        Detective Stephanie Criss

·        Detective Trey White

·        Detective Mike Boggs

·        Detective John Watts

·        Sergeant Jake Abendschan

·        Detective Marcus Yanez

·        Sergeant Kevin Miyakusu

·        Investigator John Reindollar

The IAATI Award of Merit was presented by IAATI Director Reg Phillips (Canada) and President J.D. Hough (AZ) to Colorado ATPA Director Robert Force, who received the award on behalf of BATTLE-South and Deputy Scott Stone – who was unable to attend due to a medical emergency.  The award was presented on August 6, 2018 at the 2018 International Association of Auto Theft Investigators International Training Conference in Pittsburgh, PA.

In October 2014, the Bedford (TX) Police Department contacted the Task Force after patrol officers interrupted an in-progress theft of a Harley Davidson motorcycle in an apartment complex. One suspect was arrested by officers and several others fled the scene, taking the motorcycle with them. Due to the Task Force’s expertise in auto crime investigations, Bedford PD requested that the Task Force adopt the case and take over the interview and investigation. This patrol-initiated arrest ultimately led investigators to uncover a sophisticated motorcycle theft ring that was linked to members of a prominent outlaw motorcycle gang. The investigation would span two states (Texas and California) and two countries (Unites States and New Zealand). This request was one of 2,514 agency assists rendered by the Task Force in 2014, and arguably the most significant in recent years.

  From left to right: Sgt. Matt Pedersen, Arlington PD, Team Leader, Agent Lester Keener of the Texas Department of Public Safety, Detective Justin Kipker of the Saginaw, TX Police Dept, and Reg Philips, Committee Member

Det. Kipker and Agent Keener determined that the Bedford arrestee was a paid lookout for the primary suspect, who was an active enlisted member of the U.S. Army and a confirmed member of the outlaw motorcycle gang. The suspect and other club members were already the subjects of an unrelated Aggravated Assault offense in Bell County, TX from 2012 where they were involved in a deadly shooting incident. Kipker and Keener determined that the main modus operandi of the suspect and club members was to locate Harley Davidson motorcycles, pick the ignition cylinder with a custom lock-pick set, defeat the electronic ignition system and drive the stolen motorcycle to an awaiting enclosed cargo trailer that had been parked in close proximity to the offense location. The suspect would then transport the stolen motorcycles to either a staging location in Temple, TX or to a motorcycle shop in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area. Surveillance video captured on a Walmart security camera provided investigators with evidence corroborating the arrestee’s information and provided a suspect vehicle and trailer description for investigators. An investigator with the Heart of Texas Auto Theft Task Force (Waco) was requested to surveil the suspect’s known address in Temple, TX, where the investigator located and matched the suspected vehicle and trailer used in the thefts.

Investigators began an exhaustive search across the State of Texas for similar offenses. Several agencies responded with matching offenses, in particular, an offense in Grand Prairie, TX from June 2014 that included video the suspect’s vehicle and trailer being used in the offense. Det. Kipker also located several insurance claims made by the suspect involving the same vehicle used to travel the state and steal motorcycles. Det. Kipker secured photos from insurance claim files, one of which included a picture of the suspect vehicle and the suspect’s trailer captured in the reflection of the vehicle’s rear window attached to the car.

Armed with the corroborating evidence, Det. Kipker and Agent Keener secured a search warrant for the suspect’s cellular provider’s data as well as a court order authorizing the installation of a GPS tracking device on the suspect’s vehicle in November 2014. When live tracker data indicated that the suspect was headed from his residence in Temple toward Dallas, Task Force investigators conducted an intercept and surveillance operation, ultimately leading investigators to the business of a Harley Davidson internet sales dealer in Richardson, TX. Investigators then coordinated a “soft stop” with a Texas DPS trooper on the suspect’s return trip to Temple, where he was identified and released with a freshly painted Harley Davidson in-tow.

Over the course of the next several months and after securing information from phone records, internet sales searches, GPS tracking, pole-camera monitoring and mobile surveillance operations, Kipker and Keener identified 17 additional theft offenses. They also identified two Dallas County businesses involved in the “chopping,” VIN-swapping, sales and shipping of the stolen motorcycles. Investigators also identified a storage unit in Temple that had been used by the suspect to conceal stolen motorcycles. In an intelligence-sharing meeting with US Army CID and after noticing a decline in Harley thefts and activity, investigators learned that the suspect was deployed overseas from December 2014 until September 2015.

Although the suspect was out of the country, Kipker and Keener continued their investigative efforts and located two Harley motorcycles that were set for export through the port in Long Beach, CA by one of the two involved suspect businesses. Investigators made contact with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in February 2015 requesting the shipping container be located and detained. An inspection of the motorcycles in the container determined they had parts from stolen Harley motorcycles from Crockett and Garland, TX attached to them.

With the assistance of CBP investigators, it was determined that four motorcycles had already been shipped internationally to New Zealand. Using international contacts, Kipker coordinated with New Zealand Auto Theft investigators who confirmed that three of the four motorcycles were registered in their jurisdiction. One of the motorcycles inspected by New Zealand investigators was confirmed to have stolen motorcycles parts attached that were from bikes reported out of Dallas-Fort Worth.

In June 2015, Kipker and Keener coordinated administrative business inspections at the two Dallas County locations linked to the theft ring through their investigation. 23 officers and investigators from various agencies assisted with the large-scale operation. Within five minutes of entering the first location, investigators located multiple altered frames, stolen component parts and identified the method in which they were swapping VINs. Agent Keener froze the scene and secured a search warrant before seizing scores of stolen/altered parts. Two suspects, Jordanian nationals, were interviewed and arrested. At the second location, investigators located parts to an additional seven stolen Harley Davidson bikes, frames with the VINs cut out and seized several component parts with obliterated identification numbers.

In December 2015, three months after the suspect returned from deployment, the Temple (TX) Police Department responded to the suspect’s residence at the request of Austin PD who was tracking a stolen 2016 Harley Davidson from their city. Kipker and Keener were notified and immediately responded to Temple from Fort Worth where they assisted with the execution of a search warrant at the residence. Investigators located component parts and documentation associated with six stolen Harleys. Two complete motorcycles, both stolen, were also located by investigators and recovered. Also seized, was the custom lock-pick/ Harley theft kit used by the suspect to steal the motorcycles. The suspect was arrested for the theft of the Austin bike and jailed. It was later determined by Temple PD that the suspect was possibly related to 30 additional violent crime offenses that had occurred in the Temple/Killeen area over the past several years.

Kipker and Keener presented their Harley Davidson theft ring case and investigation details to an assistant U.S. District Attorney from the Western District in Waco, TX. In February 2016, after receiving cooperation from the Jordanian nationals, the suspect and an additional gang member were indicted on federal charges for Conspiracy to Maintain a Chop Shop and warrants were issued. The suspect, who was out on bond for the Austin motorcycle theft, was arrested by U.S. Marshal’s and is awaiting trial. Several other individuals are currently being investigated and the Task Force is expecting a second and possibly third round of federal indictments on additional suspects in the near future. To date, investigators have located parts and/or complete motorcycles related to more than 40 thefts in Texas.

Det. Kipker and Agent Keener have truly demonstrated an extraordinary amount of investigative skill and coordination while spearheading this criminal conspiracy case. Det. Kipker, working closely with the Harley headquarters in Milwaukee and local shop personnel throughout the course of the investigation, has developed into a subject matter expert in Harley Davidson identification. He was recently requested to share his knowledge to law enforcement personnel and to provide a case synopsis regarding this investigation and the lessons learned. Kipker and Keener managed to coordinate an investigation that required the participation of officers and investigators from all levels of government as well as internationally. They employed a myriad of surveillance types, from electronic to human tracking at various stages throughout the investigation. The amount and depth of record searches in law enforcement databases, on internet sites and through social media was unmatched. This case, and their collective effort, epitomizes every good quality that an auto theft investigator should embody. It is my pleasure to nominate these two investigators for the IAATI Award of Merit and my hope that they are rewarded for their dedication and contribution to the profession.

Their receiving the Award of Merit is the result of exemplary investigative skills and determination over the past year and a half involving a motorcycle theft ring operated by members of an organized criminal street gang with international ties. Det. Kipker and Agent Keener are assigned to the Tarrant Regional Auto Crimes Task Force (“Task Force”) in Fort Worth, Texas, one of the 26 grant-funded Task Forces in the State of Texas charged with investigating auto crimes. The Task Force’s program area covers seven counties in North Texas serving approximately 2.1 million citizens and is administered under the umbrella of the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office. The investigators assigned to the Task Force represent 10 agencies from the local, county and state level, and is led by Commander Bryan Sudan.

Catherine Horton (Queensland Police, Australia) 2015 Award of Merit winner pictured with Australasian Branch President, John Hambridge.

Operation Kilo Zurich focused on suspected vehicle re-birthing and drug trafficking syndicates operating in the Gold Coast Districts of Queensland, Australia. The investigation extended across Australia with the South East Queensland Police, New South Wales Police, the Victoria Police, The Crime and Corruption Commission, The Australian Federal Police and the New Zealand Department of Transportation joining in.

An employee of the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads was caught legitimizing stolen vehicles with new registrations.

Ultimately 12 people were charged with 106 vehicle related offences and 28 vehicles were recovered worth a value of $1,300,000. An additional $14,888,000 in stolen property was recovered and $10,071,450 in criminal assets and proceeds were seized. A drug trafficking syndicate was also identified and targeted. This included 36 persons charged with 138 offences. The Queensland Police Service performed an outstanding job of bringing a multi-jurisdictional investigation to a successful conclusion. Without the cooperation of all of these agencies, the suppression of these criminal syndicates would not have been possible. 

Det Senior Constable Catherine Horton was one of the principal investigators for Operation Kilo Zurich.

California Highway Patrol Vehicle Theft Investigators Jim Eberhart, Tony Padilla, Robert Holtz, and J. Vaughan commenced an undercover mobile storefront operation dubbed “Operation Wheel Spin.” This operation was led by the four CHP investigators assigned to the California Highway Patrol, Southern Division Investigative Services Unit (ISU). The operation was spearheaded by the investigators as an innovative and modernized method of investigating vehicle theft activity. The purpose of the operation was to identify career vehicle/motorcycle thieves, theft rings, chop shops, recover stolen property, and to gather the evidence necessary for arrests and successful prosecution of those suspects involved. The overall goal of the operation was to reduce the vehicle/motorcycle theft rates in Los Angeles County and surrounding communities. California leads all other states in the US in motorcycle thefts over the last five years (Source: National Insurance Crime Bureau, 2012 Motorcycle Theft and Recovery Report).

Operation Wheel Spin began with the purchase of outstanding stolen sport bike motorcycles by utilization of confidential resources. Undercover officers were then introduced into the case and began to buy stolen property from suspects. In the months that followed, CHP investigators began to conduct a series of undercover buy/walk operations of stolen motorcycles while maintaining covert status during the investigation. Multiple investigative tools and resources were utilized, including undercover operatives with full undercover identities (names, phone numbers, e-mail accounts, social media internet accounts, misc. props, etc.), undercover vehicles, body wire monitoring, audio/ video recording devices, covert cameras, use of ground/aerial surveillances, and cold/wall stops to identify suspects and co-conspirators.

Investigators assigned to the undercover operation conducted a multitude of tasks including, maintaining/organizing the operation in a systematic manner for all inquiries and reporting procedures; maintaining multiple logs consisting of the undercover transactions, intelligence meetings, suspects, evidence, recoveries, undercover activities, notes, statistics, operational and tactical briefings with team members and supervisors on the progression and direction of the operation; planning and conducting undercover operations; status updates with District Attorney/Attorney General; search warrant authorizations; and report preparation which culminated case filings.

Based upon the experience and knowledge of the investigators regarding sport bike identification and theft methods and trends, numerous requests for assistance and/or case referrals regarding sport bikes were forwarded from other CHP areas and law enforcement agencies. During the tenure of Operation Wheel Spin, investigators initiated 139 investigations which had a correlation to sport bikes and the thefts of these types of motorcycles. Some of these investigations involved allied law enforcement agencies such as the San Diego Police Department, Las Vegas Metro Police Department- VIPER Unit, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department- TRAP Unit, Long Beach Police Department, and the Los Angeles Police Department

Operation Wheel Spin came to an end in December 2013. California State Deputy Attorney General Natasha Howard, who had been working with CHP Investigators, was presented with the case filing in January/February 2013. Since the filing, multiple arrest and search warrants were served, chop shops were identified and eliminated, and dozens of additional stolen motorcycles were recovered. The prosecution of the suspects identified through the undercover operation is currently on-going and many have resulted in convictions thus far.

Operation Wheel Spin Statistics:

• 139 Operation Wheel Spin Investigations
• 58 Total Undercover Transactions
• 79 Suspects Identified
• 51 Arrests
• 110 Stolen Vehicles Recovered (99 Motorcycles and 11 Automobiles)
• 29 VIN Altered/Removed (Motorcycles and/or Engines)
• 9 Chop Shops Shut Down
• 21 Search Warrants Executed
• $848,140 Total Value of Stolen Vehicles Recovered

Investigator Eberhart receiving Award of Merit from committee member Bill Skinner and President Peter Perrien at the IAATI Annual Seminar.

The 2013 IAATI’s Award of Merit was won by a team of investigators who participated in Operation Venetian Blinds.

This case began in August of 2007 with the purchase of a 2002 Toyota Camry for $10,200. using a counterfeit Farmer’s (spelled Framer’s) Insurance check in Arvada Colorado. The crime spree quickly spread whereby the suspects purchased vehicles advertised for sale on Craigslist, using counterfeit checks with the names of various insurance companies and credit unions, usually right at or just over blue book value. The vehicles were immediately put back on Craigslist for under-retail prices and sold almost immediately to unsuspecting buyers.

In November of 2007 in Overland Park Kansas, authorities came in contact with the suspects after motel staff reported that the room that the suspects were staying in contained Trac 2-way phones, wigs, latex gloves, currency, large amounts of clothing and laptop computers.

In December of 2007 in Salt Lake City Utah, authorities came in contact with one of the suspects as she attempted to sell a stolen 2000 Toyota 4 Runner in an undercover sting operation.

Investigators were able to confirm that over the next 3 years, the suspects were responsible for the fraudulent purchase and sale of 20 vehicles using the same methodology. The suspects were linked to thefts in Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oregon and Utah.

When all was said and done, the primary suspect, Othello Bland was sentenced to 12 years in the Kansas Department of Corrections for Motor Vehicle Theft, 4 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections for Motor Vehicle Theft out of Jefferson County and 14 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections for violation of the Colorado Organized Crime Control Act out of Arapahoe County. Jodi Reed was found guilty in Salt Lake City for attempting to sell the stolen Toyota 4 Runner to undercover officers and Chelsea Getchell (Jaros) was found guilty in Overland Park Kansas for her involvement with a stolen Dodge 1500 pickup.

Participants in the investigation:

Colorado Attorney General’s Office:

• Inv. Dana Chavez
• Prosecutor Jodi Pilmer

West Metro Auto Theft Task Force:

• Det. Bill Johnson, (Arvada Police Department)
• Det. John Lietz, (Denver Police Department)
• Analyst Renee Antikadjieva

Left to right: Dennis Connor; Matthew Napper; Matther Taylor; Jason Smith; John P. O’Byrne

The IAATI Award of Merit was created in 1992 to honor a person, group, department or company for outstanding contribution in the area of vehicle theft investigation or prevention. This year’s committee was comprised of IAATI members Barb Rambo, Bill Skinner and Denny Roske and it found itself voting on 6 great submissions. The 2012 winner of the Award of Merit is the New South Wales (Australia) Police Force for “Operation Burindi”.

In May, 2010 the New South Wales Police Force began investigating a sophisticated organized criminal motor vehicle re-birthing syndicate which operated out of southwest metropolitan Sydney with impacts nationally and internationally. Shortly after, Strike Force Burindi was formally established combining the efforts of the New South Wales Police Force Property Crime Squad, State Crime Command, and Australian Customs, & Border Protection Service.

The investigation continued as the strike force conducted numerous search warrants, gathering additional information on stolen vehicles, and identifying suspects. It was learned that some vehicles and vehicle parts were being shipped to Beirut, Lebanon. A search warrant was executed on a shipping container that was on a ship in Port Melbourne, Victoria. Discovered in the container were 15 tons of stolen vehicles and parts. Many stolen vehicles had been re-birthed and sold to innocent purchasers. Over the next 20 months Strike Force Burindi recovered 61 stolen vehicles with a value of over $3,000,000, arrested 6 individuals and issued 1 arrest warrant for a person who fled to Lebanon.

Strike Force Burindi also illustrated the importance of liaising and combining forces with other agencies in the pursuit of organized crime syndicates.

Present to accept the award at IAATI’s 60th Annual Seminar in Kansas City, Missouri were Detective Senior Constables Matthew Napper and Matthew Taylor.

IAATI and the Award of Merit Committee congratulate the New South Wales Police Force on this successful investigation. They are very deserving of IAATI’s Award of Merit for 2012.

IAATI President Christopher McDonold - Left - Center - NCRC President Glenn Ebersold - Right IAATI Past President and Chair of the IAATI Award of Merit Committee - Glenn accepted the Award of Merit for the Indiana State Police and Secret Service who could not attend the seminar.

Det. Deron Brown (Left) - IAATI President Christopher McDonold (center) NICB Director Darrell “Rusty” Russell accepting IAATI Award of Merit.

The IAATI Award of Merit was created in 1992 to honor a person, group, department or company for outstanding contribution in the area of vehicle theft investigation or prevention.

This year found the committee found themselves in a quandary with the voting on the four submissions. After many discussions, two ended in a tie. For the fi rst time in many years, the committee decided to award two winners for the award.

The St. Lucie County, Florida Sheriff’s Offi ce shares the honors with the Indiana State Police and the Secret Service. Both of these winners conducted lengthy and well organized investigations.

In April, 2009, the St. Lucie Co. Sheriff’s Detectives Deron Brown and Rusty Russell opened up “Operation Grab Bag”. The investigation involved the sale of stolen vehicles with fraudulent vehicle identifi cation numbers (VIN’s) used to conceal their true identity. After recovering a single stolen vehicle, common denominators revolving around a grocery store and fraudulent North Carolina and New York titles caused the Detectives to sort through 80,000 registered vehicle records to identify potential VIN switched vehicles. The list was narrowed down to 6,000. That’s when they sought the assistance of Special Agent Price of the NICB. Together along with 12 other police agencies they investigated for a year and a half. The case culminated in September, 2010 with a total of 48 VIN switched vehicles identifi ed, 30 of which have been recovered and identi- fi ed as stolen with a value of $759,345.00. Arrest warrants were issued for three individuals involved in the case. Det. Brown and Det. Russell (now a NICB Agent), were presented the award at our seminar in Atlantic City.

Also winning the award was the Indiana State Police and the U S Secret Service. In May of 2009, Det. Mitch Blocher of the Indiana State Police was networking with others at an investigative meeting and was asked to look at 60 North Carolina vehicle titles. (Hey, does this sound familiar, like the above case also had North Carolina titles involved?) Within days Det. Blocher had tracked down and recovered 15 stolen cars and trucks. NICB Agents assisted Det. Blocher with the identifi cation of the vehicles. Each of these vehicles had been retagged with a counterfeit public VIN plate. Det. Blocher realized that he had multiple suspects and vehicles crossing state lines. He contacted Special Agent Danny DiRienzo of the U S Secret Service. Bloche and DiRienzo used informants, undercover sting operations, and a federal wire tap to conclude their complicated case. The end result was over 50 stolen vehicles recovered valued in excess of $2 million with fi ve individuals charged under federal indictments. Blocher and DiRienzo are still looking for 20 more possible VIN switched vehicles. Blocher and DiRienzo were unable to attend the Seminar in Atlantic City. The award was presented to Glenn Ebersold, President of the North Central Regional Chapter of IAATI. Glenn will present the award to Det. Blocher and Special Agent DiRienzo at a later time.

Det. Reid Stacy (Dallas PD) receiving Award of Merit from Rick Greenwood

On March 2, 2009, Detective Reid Stacy of the Dallas Police Department Auto Theft Salvage Squad received information that the occupants of 3632 Hammerly Drive were receiving, storing and dismantling stolen vehicles.

On April 10, 2009, Detectives Stacy and Salinas conducted surveillance and observed a 2007 Chevrolet pickup white in color. The partially stripped vehicle was missing the front clip, hood, and
bumper. Detectives were unable to verify the identity of the vehicle and on April 11, 2009, patrol recovered the vehicle approximately 4 to 5 blocks from the address in question.

On April 15, 2009, Detective Stacy identified two subjects as possible occupants through a combination of database searches including adult identification system.

On April 21, 2009 Detectives Stacy and Salinas conducted surveillance at the location. Detectives observed in the back yard a male subject stripping the interior of a blue 2000 Chevrolet vehicle. The vehicle was also missing front quarter panels, grill, hood and doors. Detectives were unable to identify the 2000 Chevrolet. Next to the stripped blue Chevrolet was a 2009 gray Chevrolet Silverado that was in good condition.

The next day, Detectives Stacy and Ferguson conducted surveillance and observed a 2000 blue Chevrolet in the back yard of the residence. The vehicle was in good condition. Also in the backyard was a stripped vehicle that was being concealed with a plastic tarp. Detectives observed four males loading unknown parts into a 1999 white Chevrolet pickup with a Texas license plate.

Again, one day later, Detective Ferguson conducted aerial surveillance with the assistance of the Dallas Police helicopter. Detective Ferguson observed two vehicles in the back yard. One unknown vehicle was covered with a plastic tarp. The vehicle was identified as a 2003 white Cadillac Escalade.

On April 24, 2009, detectives from Dallas Police Department Auto Theft Salvage Unit “Junk Yard Dogs” conducted a knock and talk investigation at the location. One subject interviewed stated that he resided there. Detective Stacy asked this subject if he would grant detectives permission to search his residence and residential yard. The subject agreed by signing a written consent form.

Detectives Salinas and Garza observed two males actively removing the bed on a blue 2000 Chevrolet Silverado pickup and a third male carrying a blue door. The blue 2000 Chevrolet Silverado
was missing all four doors, the interior seats were missing and the front hood, quarter panels, and grill. The vehicle was stolen out of Dallas. Detectives observed a 2003 Cadillac Escalade stolen in Irving. Between the dates of March 3, 2009 to April 24, 2009, intelligence information, surveillance and investigation of the residence by auto theft detectives corroborated that the subjects detained at this location were active participants in a “chop shop”. The group established, maintained, and participated in combination in the stripping and dismantling of stolen vehicles for financial gain. Detectives identified a total of fifteen stolen vehicles or parts that belong to stolen vehicles with an aggregated value of $260,000.00. The dates of theft range from February 17, 2009 to April 22,
2009.

Due to the long hours and tireless effort put forth by Detective Stacy of the Dallas Police Auto Theft Unit, he was nominated and won the Award of Merit.

By Randy Andrews, SCRC Past President

Captain Don Roby accepting the Award of Merit on behalf of Detective Corporal Steve Sunderland. l to r: Dave Petrelli; Captain Don Roby; President Mikel Longman

The IAATI Award of Merit was created in 1992 to honor a person, group, department or company for outstanding contribution in the area of vehicle theft investigation or prevention. The nominees
for the 2009 Award of merit were all worthy of recognition making the final determination was a difficult task for the committee.

This year’s nominee finalists truly represented IAATI’s global impact and included;
• The Automobile Burglary and Theft Prevention Authority Grant of the Houston Police Department comprised of 16 officers from the Houston Police Department, Fort Bend County Sheriff’s
Office, Metro Police Department and the Texas Department of Public Safety-Motor Vehicle Theft Service.
• The Taiwan Crime Investigation Bureau (CIB), Represented by Mr. M.S. Huang, Director General, in conjunction with the DataDot Corporation.
• The Metro Nashville Tennessee Police Department Auto Theft Unit comprised of 1 Sergeant and 8 Detectives.
• Detective Corporal Steve Sunderland of the Baltimore City/County Regional Auto Theft Team.

After a review of all of the information and statistical data from the nominees, including hundreds of arrests and millions of dollars in vehicle recoveries, the winner was determined to be Detective Corporate Sunderland. Under his direction, the team has focused their efforts on several major areas of vehicle theft including cargo theft, motorcycle theft and insurance fraud. These efforts have produced solid results and a 30 year low in overall vehicle thefts in the area, results that are obviously very impressive and well deserving of the award. The Award was presented at the IAATI Seminar in Westminster Colorado. Accepting the award for Detective Corporal Sunderland was Captain Don Roby who is the head of the Baltimore Property Crimes Section.

Our sincere thanks and congratulations go out to Detective Corporal Sunderland and his team as well as all of the nominees for a job well done. We look forward to next year when we anticipate more
excellent results and some well deserved nominations.

2008 IAATI AWARD OF MERIT RECIPIENTS: (L toR) Det. Charles Baker, Det. Edward Gesser, Jimmy Hester, Inv. Hallie Crance, Special Agent Jared Stahl. (Not Pictured: Trooper First Class Chris Thomas).

IAATI's Award of Merit was created in 1992 in order to honor to a person, group, department, or company in recognition for outstanding contribution in the area of vehicle theft investigation or
prevention.

On May 5, 2004, a meeting was held between Detective Baker of the Charles Co. Maryland Sheriff's Dept. and Detective Gesser of the Prince George Police Department. The Detectives were
discussing a recent auto theft case when they realized that one individual was a common element in two of their cases. They turned this conversation into a 3 ½ year multi-jurisdictional investigation.
They were soon joined by Investigator Crance of the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration, Trooper First Class Thomas of the Maryland State Police, and Detective Stahl of the University of Maryland Police Dept.

Thieves were targeting SUVs and other high end vehicles such as Corvettes, BMW's, Mercedes Benz, Cadillacs, and Jaguars. The investigators found multiple suspects working together using
counterfeit VIN plates and counterfeit documents to conceal the identity of the stolen vehicles. Using a confidential source, other investigative techniques and executing 10 search warrants, they
developed enough information to arrest and charge all of the 14 individuals involved.

During the investigation, one of the individuals involved was murdered on his car lot. The murder case is still under investigation. 

These investigators managed to accomplish a great deal without the benefit of a dedicated task force. In all, they were able to identify 87 stolen vehicles that were titled through fraudulent means.
The total value of the vehicles was $2,245,810. Due to the hard work and dedication by this group of investigators, the vast majority of these vehicles were recovered and returned to their
rightful owners.

IAATI salutes this group for a great job with the Award of Merit.

The 2008 Recipients of the award are:

• Det. Charles Baker, Charles Co. Maryland Sheriff's Dept.
• Det. Edward Gesser, Prince George Co. Maryland Police Dept.
• Inv. Hallie Crance, Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration
• Trooper First Class Chris Thomas, Maryland State Police
• Special Agent Jared Stahl, U. S. Secret Service

Correction:  The photo shows Dennis Connor accepting the award on behalf of Det . John Alt