Matrix Serious & Organised Crime Vehicle Crime & Commercial Unit

BULLETIN July 2014

July 2014 summary June 14 in brackets)

Stolen vs June 2014 (178)

8% 194 vehicles stolen

Areas stolen from: Wirral: 27 (27) Sefton: 36 (36) Knowsley: 15 (14) St. Helens: 37 (27) Liverpool North: 53 (39) Liverpool South: 26 (35)

Recovered vs June 2014 (140)

20% 115 vehicles recovered

Areas recovered from: Wirral: 17 (15) Sefton:16 (19) Knowsley: 9 (14) St. Helens: 18 (11) Liverpool North: 29 (25) Liverpool South: 19 (23)

July 2014 breakdown During July, 194 vehicles were stolen, an increase of 8% on June 2014. As a Force we recovered 115 stolen vehicles, a decrease of 20% from June 2014.

Scooters 125cc or below – 49 Emerging issue, 25% increase on June on top of a 10% increase last month

Transit - 13

More than 600cc – 12

Focus – 8

Fiesta – 6

ATM attacks – oxyacetylene MO On 30th July, West Midlands Police recovered a Mercedes C63 estate in the Rugby area, upon recovering the vehicle, they identified that the rear window had been covered to look like it had been broken. It appears that the users of the vehicle had covered the rear window to conceal the set-up inside which was such to facilitate ATM ‘gas’ attacks. This has been identified as a common MO within the West Midlands area.

Audi RS6 – potential ‘hide’ within engine bay This vehicle made off from patrols in Scotland near to a service station that is used by OCG’S for drugs exchanges. On searching the vehicle a Police drugs dog showed strong indication to the engine compartment especially were the pollen filter is situated. All components were easily removed and from a mechanical expert had been removed before.

Stolen machinery

Stolen sometime between Saturday 12 July 2014 and Sunday 21 July 2014, approximately £90,000 worth of plant machinery was stolen from the TATA steel works, SCUNTHORPE. 1 x body / motor (2.5 ton and coloured blue in both images) and 2 x sets of cutting jaws (1x concrete and 1 x tank cutting, coloured white in centre image). The owners VEOLIA ENVIRONMENTAL state offenders have specifically targeted this equipment and would have required machinery and a lorry to steal them. VEOLIA also believe that they would have not been stolen for scrap value and will be used / sold on complete. No ID numbers known at this time. Intel or sightings to the VCCU.

Detection device This device was recently found during a house search of a prolific car thief in Kirkby, Merseyside by Knowsley NST. Initial research suggests it is manufactured in the Far East. Designed as a ‘Spy Bug and Camera Wireless Signal Detector.’ Button A is for Long Range detection and Button B, Short Range detection. Operating between the frequencies of 100 MHz to 2,600 MHz, it could detect an RF (Radio Frequency) signal between those frequencies, including listening devices, wireless cameras, mobile phones, some RF vehicle trackers, etc. http://youtu.be/Ssm21-3nWIM http://youtu.be/U6L7LvG13c0 Or search ‘ghost finder device’ on YouTube £3.88 on Amazon with free delivery!!

ECU Theft GREATER MANCHESTER POLICE area are reporting approximately 35 Electronic Control Units (ECU’s) stolen from FIAT Punto vehicles this year. Generally stolen from 2003 to 2005 year models. eBay advertises similar ECU’s selling for approximately £40 each.

Trailer thefts The following vehicles were recovered at the rear of a premises called Morris Dene Farm, Dry Bread Lane, Out Rawcliffe, Lancashire. A further outstanding stolen 40ft trailer, filled with hair conditioner and stolen from the Sowerby Bridge area on 11/07/14 was recovered, still laden at premises called Valiants Farm, Lancaster Road, Out Rawcliffe, Preston, Lancashire. The vehicles are believed to have been used by an Organised Crime Group based in Liverpool using the HGV Cabs to steal laden trailers overnight. It is believed that the trailers have then been dumped. Request for intelligence or stop checks of OCG members using / having access to HGV’s. Thefts of trailers / containers from Manchester were circulated on last month’s circulation so this is an MO relevant to the North West region.

Off road recovery Following the search of a container yard in Wavertree, Liverpool South, around 14 off-road vehicles were recovered. Thus far, we have confirmed that four vehicles are stolen, including the Polaris ATV shown below which was stolen from Lanarkshire in 2012. We also recovered stolen parts from a BMW X5. Further enquiries are being conducted, which we believe in further vehicles being identified as stolen.

Training / Familiarisation input

VCCU staff are currently requesting expressions of interest for a familiarisation input regarding stolen vehicles. The input will last a couple of hours and will take place at a rota garage (probably Ellisons in Speke) and whilst this is not an approved academy course aims to provide a basic ‘top tips’ style input to assist officers at the roadside in identifying potentially stolen vehicles. If you are interested in attending an input please contact A/Sgt 4857 Craig Arnold or Con. 5500 Graeme Watson for further information and dates.

Operations & work of note Results and work of note:

Vehicle Crime Unit During July, officers from the Vehicle Crime Unit carried out a number of examinations on suspected stolen vehicles and took part in pro-active operations. If you feel you have an operation / issue which could benefit from this type of enforcement please contact A/Sgt. Craig Arnold

159 x Stolen vehicle examinations 7 x Off road vehicle registrations •

"Op Drift" vehicle (cloned/stolen DVLA V5s) a BMW X5 in Liverpool area, VCCU locate the vehicle, which was recovered for examination and an MG11 obtained, vehicle was a high quality clone vehicle identified as stolen in BIAD from the Met area late last year, several exhibits recovered from the vehicle, aggrieved from Merseyside loses both vehicle and the £15k in cash paid for the vehicle, all details passed to Met.

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Audi RS6 recovered sus. stolen examined after gun crime nominal surrenders key, identity confirmed correct however drug dog indicates area around pollen filter, area examined and if filter removed large void cleared, vehicle also of interest to Police Scotland.

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‘Knowledge share' with BCU officers at Ellsions recovery on how to spot stolen vehicles. The first time this has been done and very positive feedback.

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VCG informed they have won this years national IAATI (International Association of Auto Theft Investigators) award for the conviction of an internet based number plate supplier - The first conviction of its type in the UK.

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Assist search warrant in D BCU. Off road bikes discovered to have ground off ID marks, identified one possible loser found on Niche, area are making enquiries.

Roadside operations & work of note Commercial Unit Results: Throughout the month of July, officers from MSOC VCCU have carried out roadside operations across Merseyside targeting commercial vehicles including Taxis, HGV’s, Vans, busses ect. If you feel you have an operation / issue which could benefit from this type of enforcement please contact A/Sgt. Craig Arnold

Reactive work 18 x RTC’s investigated / allocated 486 x Abnormal load notifications processed Proactive work 58 x Graduated Fixed penalty notice 37 x TOR (OSCO) 2 x 10-500 CDG examinations 1 x CDG prohibition 20 x PG9 (immediate) 12 x PG9 (delayed) 3 x Immobilisation 2 x Seizure (Sec. 165A) 1 x Traffic commissioner referral £12,800 x Fines

Vehicle ID locations Would you know where to find the VIN number or engine number for vehicles? If not, all staff have access to EU Vid which is a web-based information system giving the location of identity numbers for the majority of vehicles, plant, trailers and documentation. The location of numbers MUST NOT be disseminated outside of Merseyside Police and under no circumstances should a member of the public be provided this information by Merseyside Police without prior consultation with the Vehicle Crime & Commercial Unit.

The system is located on the team drive and is accessible by copying the following file path into Internet Explorer: T:\European Vehicle Identity Discs\EUVID_2010 (E)\pages\english\index1.htm

The system is relatively easy to use but for further information please contact us.

Seizing a vehicle which you suspect to be stolen? If the control room update the vehicle with a found report then the Vehicle Crime & Commercial Unit will not examine the vehicle as our role is to establish the identity of the vehicle. We accept that if a found report is added then this is a declaration that the vehicle has been identified. If you are in any doubt as to the identity of the vehicle then a found report should not be added and instead submit a request through ELVIS for an examination.

If you have any questions about the content of this presentation please contact the Matrix Vehicle Crime & Commercial Unit on A/Sgt. Craig Arnold Con. Mark Hemans Con. Andy O’Brien Con. Graeme Watson Con. Gareth Evans Con. Chris Kelleher Geoff McKeown VOSA – Dave Cook

75683 / 07738647585 75583 75683 75618 75618 75618 75618 75682

For past circulations please contact the VCCU.