CAR THEFT PLAYS AN IMPORTANT PART IN MODERN CRIME CONTROL AND REPRESENTS AN ENORMOUS DOLLAR LOSS. MANY TEENAGERS BEGIN A CRIMINAL CAREER BY 'BORROWING' CARS FOR JOY RIDES OR BY STEALING PARTS. HOLDUP GANGS TAKE AUTOMOBILES FOR USE AS GETAWAY CARS. OFFICERS WHO HAVE MASTERED THE TECHNIQUES FOR SPOTTING STOLEN CARS CAN RECOVER CARS ABANDONED BY THESE OFFENDERS. THESE TECHNIQUES, ILLUSTRATED IN DETAIL, INCLUDE GETTING A DESCRIPTION OF THE REPORTED MISSING CAR FROM THE OWNER, FINDING THE CAR'S SERIAL NUMBER, USING THE 'HOT LIST' AS AN AID, AND CHECKING FOR PHYSICAL DISCREPANCIES IN THE CONDITION OF THE CAR AND CAR TAGS. METHODS OF DETECTING WHETHER A MOVING CAR IS STOLEN INCLUDE REFINING SKILLS FOR ASSESSING DRIVER BEHAVIOR AND DRIVER TYPE COMPARED WITH CAR TYPE. FOR EXAMPLE, A GROUP OF MORE THAN FOUR JUVENILES IN A LATE MODEL CAR OR A LONE JUVENILE IN A HIGH POWERED MODEL LATE AT NIGHT SHOULD SIGNAL SUSPICION AS SHOULD EXCESSIVE REDUCTION OF SPEED OR SIGNS OF DRIVER NERVOUSNESS WHEN IN IMMEDIATE RANGE OF A POLICE CAR. OFFICERS STOPPING A CAR SHOULD INFORM THE DISPACHER, CAUTIOUSLY APPROACH THE CAR FROM THE SIDE, AND CHECK FOR CLUES ON THE DASHBOARD AND UNDER THE HOOD. STEPS TO TAKE IN ARRESTING THE SUSPECT AND FURTHER EXAMINING THE CAR ARE GIVEN. THE KIT INCLUDES AN INSTRUCTOR'S GUIDE, STUDY NOTES, QUIZ QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS, THE SLIDES, AND AUDIOCASSETTE. (PRG)