Evaluation of the Regional Auto Theft Task (RATT) Force in San Diego County, 1993-1996

The Criminal Justice Research Division of the San Diego
 Association of Governments (SANDAG) received funds from the National
 Institute of Justice to assist the Regional Auto Theft Task (RATT)
 force and evaluate the effectiveness of the program. The project
 involved the development of a computer system to enhance the crime
 analysis and mapping capabilities of RATT. Following the
 implementation of the new technology, the effectiveness of task force
 efforts was evaluated. The primary goal of the research project was to
 examine the effectiveness of RATT in reducing auto thefts relative to
 the traditional law enforcement response. In addition, the use of
 enhanced crime analysis information for targeting RATT investigations
 was assessed. This project addressed the following research questions:
 (1) What were the characteristics of vehicle theft rings in San Diego
 and how were the stolen vehicles and/or parts used, transported, and
 distributed? (2) What types of vehicles were targeted by vehicle theft
 rings and what was the modus operandi of suspects? (3) What was the
 extent of violence involved in motor vehicle theft incidents? (4) What
 was the relationship between the locations of vehicle thefts and
 recoveries? (5) How did investigators identify motor vehicle thefts
 that warranted investigation by the task force? (6) Were the
 characteristics of motor vehicle theft cases investigated through RATT
 different than other cases reported throughout the county? (7) What
 investigative techniques were effective in apprehending and
 prosecuting suspects involved in major vehicle theft operations? (8)
 What was the impact of enhanced crime analysis information on
 targeting decisions? and (9) How could public education be used to
 reduce the risk of motor vehicle theft? For Part 1 (Auto Theft
 Tracking Data), data were collected from administrative records to
 track auto theft cases in San Diego County. The data were used to
 identify targets of enforcement efforts (e.g., auto theft rings,
 career auto thieves), techniques or strategies used, the length of
 investigations, involvement of outside agencies, property recovered,
 condition of recoveries, and consequences to offenders that resulted
 from the activities of the investigations. Data were compiled for all
 194 cases investigated by RATT in fiscal year 1993 to 1994 (the
 experimental group) and compared to a random sample of 823 cases
 investigated through the traditional law enforcement response during
 the same time period (the comparison group). The research staff also
 conducted interviews with task force management (Parts 2 and 3,
 Investigative Operations Committee Initial Interview Data and
 Investigative Operations Committee Follow-Up Interview Data) and other
 task force members (Parts 4 and 5, Staff Initial Interview Data and
 Staff Follow-Up Interview Data) at two time periods to address the
 following issues: (1) task force goals, (2) targets, (3) methods of
 identifying targets, (4) differences between RATT strategies and the
 traditional law enforcement response to auto theft, (5) strategies
 employed, (6) geographic concentrations of auto theft, (7) factors
 that enhance or impede investigations, (8) opinions regarding
 effective approaches, (9) coordination among agencies, (10)
 suggestions for improving task force operations, (11) characteristics
 of auto theft rings, (12) training received, (13) resources and
 information needed, (14) measures of success, and (15) suggestions for
 public education efforts. Variables in Part 1 include the total number
 of vehicles and suspects involved in an incident, whether informants
 were used to solve the case, whether the stolen vehicle was used to
 buy parts, drugs, or weapons, whether there was a search warrant or an
 arrest warrant, whether officers used surveillance equipment,
 addresses of theft and recovery locations, date of theft and recovery,
 make and model of the stolen car, condition of vehicle when recovered,
 property recovered, whether an arrest was made, the arresting agency,
 date of arrest, arrest charges, number and type of charges filed,
 disposition, conviction charges, number of convictions, and
 sentence. Demographic variables include the age, sex, and race of the
 suspect, if known. Variables in Parts 2 and 3 include the goals of
 RATT, how the program evolved, the role of the IOC, how often the IOC
 met, the relationship of the IOC and the executive committee, how RATT
 was unique, why RATT was successful, how RATT could be improved, how
 RATT was funded, and ways in which auto theft could be
 reduced. Variables in Parts 4 and 5 include the goals of RATT, sources
 of information about vehicle thefts, strategies used to solve auto
 theft cases, location of most vehicle thefts, how motor vehicle thefts
 were impacted by RATT, impediments to the RATT program, suggestions
 for improving the program, ways in which auto theft could be reduced,
 and methods to educate citizens about auto theft. In addition, Part 5
 also has variables about the type of officers' training, usefulness of
 maps and other data, descriptions of auto theft rings in terms of the
 age, race, and gender of its members, and types of cars stolen by
rings.