Vehicle Theft Investigation

Today, Vehicle theft has become concern of many citizens and affects the entire society. In the India alone, more than two lakh vehicles are stolen every year. The city of all over country holds the sad and impressive record for the high rate of stolen vehicles. With the scientific and technical advances in forensic sciences and criminal investigation techniques it would appropriate that all possible means be applied to the investigation of auto theft and recovery stolen-recovered vehicles cases.
TFWF is a leading forensic laboratory in India dealing with the investigation of auto theft, the forensic examination of a vehicle, stolen-recovered or more simply crime-related vehicles. The goal of our organization is not only to fill the gap in investigation, but also to provide more comprehensive information surrounding the investigation of auto theft. We conduct proper examination of stolen/recovered and crime-related vehicles.
When a vehicle reported stolen is discovered, our investigators answers four basic questions:

• I Has the vehicle really been stolen?
• II How was it stolen?
• III Who stole the vehicle?
• IV Has the vehicle been used to commit other crimes?

The technical examination of the vehicle, search, collection, and examination of forensic trace evidence are performed to answer these questions.

The restoration of markings (Engine & Chassis Number of the Vehicles) is an important forensic discipline that includes the science and technology of materials. It deals with aspects of solid-state physics, chemistry, and metallurgy. Markings such as serial numbers, letter codes, and label codes are applied to distinguish various items and to sign items in commercial use. In vehicular theft cases and criminal cases, they are removed to conceal the vehicle’s true identity.
TFWF Physics laboratory is equipped with instruments and methods applied to recover the markings in metals or polymers, even when erased or blotted out. We use wide range of restoration techniques. Various etching methods, the application of thermal energy, the use of cavitations by induced oscillation are prominent techniques. These technical and scientific processes facilitate the reappearance of the markings, and this is successfully applied in numerous cases solved by our experts.

The study of keys, and more particularly their production, functioning, duplication, and security, is of great interest from forensic perspective. In some cases, it is important to determine how a key and its corresponding lock work and whether the key matches the lock. In case of auto theft investigation, another question often requires an answer: whether a key has been duplicated or not. It some cases, the owner attempted to fraud the insurance company by selling the vehicle with duplicate keys, keeping the original keys to surrender to the insurance company.
Tathya Forensic Wing Federation Physics laboratory is often requested to examine Car/Buses/Trucks/Two-wheeler/Three-wheeler Vehicle keys to determine whether they have been copied. In general, Our Scientists are requested to answer the following questions:

• • How many keys is part of the original set?
• • What is the exact function of each key (master key, valet key, etc.)?
• • Do the present keys correspond to the cylinders (doors, trunk, ignition, and glove box) of the vehicle?
• • Are the keys original or copies?
• • Do the keys present regular wear and tear linked to their normal use?
• • Have any of the keys been copied?

These questions are answered by performing a proper forensic investigation and examination of the keys using the microscopic and Instrumental analysis. Report of examination is legally enforceable.

TFWF investigates the matters where fire has been put to stolen vehicle to answer fundamental questions why vehicle was stolen? Who stole vehicle? How it was stolen?, what are causes of fire? Is origin could be determined after fire? What is extent of damage to vehicle? What is Motive behind fire in stolen vehicle?
Examining a vehicle to determine the origin and the cause of the fire that destroyed it requires the removal of different parts and debris from it. Cases of burnt stolen vehicle are quite small but it still happens on daily basis in India. TFWF professional expert proficient in both fire and vehicle theft investigation conducts investigation and provides comprehensive report to client as well as presents expert testimony before court of law.