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Forensic Investigation of Stolen-Recovered and Other Crime-Related Vehicles

  • 1st Edition - February 10, 2006
  • Latest edition
  • Authors: Eric Stauffer, Monica Bonfanti
  • Language: English

Forensic Investigation of Stolen-Recovered and Other Crime-Related Vehicles provides unique and detailed insights into the investigations of one of the most common crime scenes in… Read more

Description

Forensic Investigation of Stolen-Recovered and Other Crime-Related Vehicles provides unique and detailed insights into the investigations of one of the most common crime scenes in the world.

In addition to a thorough treatment of auto theft, the book covers vehicles involved in other forms of crime—dealing extensively with the various procedures and dynamics of evidence as it might be left in any crime scene.

An impressive collection of expert contributors covers a wide variety of subjects, including chapters on vehicle identification, examination of burned vehicles, vehicles recovered from under water, vehicles involved in terrorism, vehicle tracking, alarms, anti-theft systems, steering columns, and ignition locks. The book also covers such topics as victim and witness interviews, public and private auto theft investigations, detection of trace evidence and chemical traces, vehicle search techniques, analysis of automotive fluids, vehicle registration, document examination, and vehicle crime mapping.

It is the ultimate reference guide for any auto theft investigator, crime scene technician, criminalist, police investigator, criminologist, or insurance adjuster.

Key features

  • Extensively researched and exceptionally well-written by internationally-recognized experts in auto theft investigation and forensic science
  • All the principles explained in the text are well-illustrated and demonstrated with more than 450 black and white and about 100 full-color illustrations, many directly from real cases
  • Serves as both a valuable reference guide to the professional and an effective teaching tool for the forensic science student

Readership

Crime scene investigators, arson experts, insurance agents and agencies, forensic consultants, accident investigators and reconstructionists, law enforcement officials, Private Security Consultants, forensic engineers, and lawyers.

Table of contents

1 - The Problem of Auto-Theft
Mikel Longman


2 - Victim and Witness Interviews and Collection of Circumstantial Information
Jean-François Chevalley
Manuel Poza


3 - General Crime Scene Considerations and Documentation
Moira Johnson
Simone Reynolds


4 – Forensic Examination of Stolen-Recovered Vehicles
Part I: Technical Examination and General Forensic Traces
Marc Demierre
Part II: Chemical Traces - Drugs, Explosives, and Gunshot Residue
Francesco Saverio Romolo


5 - Traces and their Evidentiary Values
Éric Stauffer


6 - Vehicle Identification
William T. Smylie



7 - Restoration of Serial Numbers
Dr. Horst Katterwe


8 - Anti-Theft Systems
Robert F. Mangine


9 - Examination of Steering Columns and Ignition Locks
Robert F. Mangine


10 - Examination of Vehicle Keys
Emmanuel Fivaz
Monica Bonfanti


11 - Analysis of Vehicle Fluids
Éric Stauffer


12 - Examination of Burned Vehicles
Éric Stauffer


13 - Examination of Vehicles Recovered Underwater
Jean-François Voillot


14 - Examination of Vehicle License Plates
Didier Brossier


15 - Examination of Vehicle Registration Documents
Diana Ombelli


16 - Vehicle Searching Procedures
Stéphane Kummer


17 - Examination of Vehicles Involved in Terrorism
Greg Terp


18 - Investigation from the Public Side
Greg Terp


19 - Investigation from the Private Side
Part I: The European Perspective
Marc Stauffer
Part II: The US Perspective
Glenn Wheeler


20 - Vehicle Tracking
Greg Terp


21 - Vehicle Crime Mapping
Jerry Ratcliffe


22 - International Collaboration Through Interpol
Alain G. Barbier

Product details

  • Edition: 1
  • Latest edition
  • Published: August 29, 2006
  • Language: English

About the authors

ES

Eric Stauffer

Eric Stauffer is a criminalist presently living in Switzerland. In 1998 he obtained his Master-equivalent degree in forensic sciences from the Institut de Police Scientifique et de Criminologie at the University of Lausanne in Switzerland. In 1999 he moved to the United States and, two years later, obtained another Master’s degree in forensic sciences from Florida International University in Miami, Florida. Mr. Stauffer is certified as a Diplomate and a Fellow of the American Board of Criminalistics, with a specialty in the area of fire debris analysis. He is also a Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator (CFEI) and a Certified Fire Investigation Instructor (CFII) both from the National Association of Fire Investigators (NAFI).

During his early career as a criminalist, Mr. Stauffer worked as a crime scene officer and a firearms and toolmarks examiner. In 2001, he moved to Atlanta and joined the private sector as a fire investigator and fire debris analyst. As such, his duties involved the investigation of numerous residential, commercial, and vehicle fire scenes to determine their origin and cause and, at the laboratory, the examination of fire debris samples for ignitable liquid residues. In 2006, he moved back to Switzerland to conduct research in forensic sciences, notably in fingermark enhancement techniques and fire investigation. He is currently pursuing doctoral studies at the School of Criminal Sciences at the University of Lausanne.

From 2003 to 2006, Mr. Stauffer was Chair of the Fire Laboratory Standards and Protocols committee of the Scientific Working Group on Fire and Explosives (SWGFEX). He also served as a subject matter expert for the development of the fire debris validation kit produced by the National Forensic Science Technology Center (NFSTC).

Mr. Stauffer is a recognized speaker and instructor in the field of forensic sciences and, more particularly, in fire investigation and fire debris analysis.

Affiliations and expertise
School of Criminal Sciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland

MB

Monica Bonfanti

Affiliations and expertise
Technical Head, Forensic Services, Geneva State Police, Switzerland

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