After reviewing the four basic reasons for vehicle theft (joyriding, transportation, commission of other crimes, and commercial theft), the first chapter focuses on aspects of commercial theft, i.e., theft for financial gain. Theft methods, fraudulent theft reports, and complex frauds are discussed. A section on the one-man vehicle theft police unit provides a job description and discusses qualifications, records, a daily activity basic plan, and equipment. Another chapter discusses general vehicle identification, including foreign car identification, identification sources, methods of identification-number plate attachment, and engine and transmission identification. A chapter on specialized methods of identifying stolen vehicles addresses some of the methods used by the investigator in identifying stolen vehicles. The topics covered include secondary numbers, restoration techniques, body numbers and assembly markings, information from automobile manufacturers, and use of special searches in identifying stolen vehicles. Separate chapters address light truck identification; truck, trailer, and cargo theft; trailer identification; and motorcycle theft identification. Other chapters consider sources of information pertinent to vehicle theft, special problems in vehicle identification and investigation, and the investigator's preparation for court testimony. Illustrative photographs and drawings.