ALL ACTIONS (PATROL AND DETECTIVE) TAKEN BY THE POLICE FROM THE INITIAL RESPONSE TO A CITIZEN COMPLAINT TO THE ARREST, DETENTION, AND TRIAL OF A SUSPECT AND THE INVESTIGATION AND DETECTION OF ORGANIZED STOLEN CAR FENCING RINGS ARE ANALYZED IN TERMS OF THE CRIME PREVENTION, DETERRENCE, AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS ROLES OF THE POLICE. THE RESULTS OF THIS ANALYSIS REVEALED, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THAT THE SPECIAL STOLEN AUTO RECOVERY SQUAD HAS MORE SUCCESS IN ARRESTING SUSPECTS THAN THE REGULAR PATROL POLICE OR THE GENDARMERIE, WHOSE ARRESTS ARE USUALLY LIMITED TO THOSE CONNECTED WITH THE ACTUAL RECOVERY OF THE STOLEN VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, RESULTS SUGGESTED THAT TAKING STOLEN VEHICLE REPORTS OVER THE TELEPHONE IS AS EFFECTIVE AND LESS COSTLY THAN DISPATCHING TWO POLICE OFFICERS TO TAKE DOWN THE REPORT PERSONALLY, ALTHOUGH THE POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS MIGHT OUTWEIGH ALL TIME-EFFECTIVENESS CONSIDERATIONS. MOST VEHICLES WERE FOUND TO BE RECOVERED AS A RESULT OF OTHER INVESTIGATIVE ACTIVITIES NOT DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE OFFENSE; THEREBY CASTING DOUBT ON THE TIME EFFECTIVENESS OF 'PRE-RECOVERY' INVESTIGATIONS. ARRESTS OF A SUSPECT TOOK PLACE IN 10.4 PERCENT OF THE CASES WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS RECOVERED IN LESS THAN A DAY, IN 8.9 PERCENT OF AUTO RECOVERIES AFTER TWO DAYS, AND 17.2 PERCENT OF AUTO RECOVERIES AFTER 5 DAYS (THE TIME WHEN THE CASE GOES TO THE AUTO RECOVERY SQUAD). FOR THE FIRST REPORT IN THIS SERIES, SEE NCJ-39931. --IN FRENCH...ELW