A Tactical Operation To Locate and Detain a Stolen or Hijacked Auto Using Modern Information Technologies

The article attempts to describe a tactical operation to locate and detain a wanted motor vehicle using modern information technologies. Despite a decline in thefts and unlawful takings of vehicles, these crimes cause significant harm to owners. The development and implementation of roadtraffic monitoring systems have a significant impact on the tactics of searching for a vehicle that has become the target of criminal encroachment. The subject of the research is the patterns of obtaining (collecting) forensic information during a tactical operation to locate and detain a wanted automobile using modern information technologies. The aim is to identify and solve epistemic and organization-altactical problems in the search for stolen vehicles and to develop scientifically grounded proposals and recommendations to improve this area of law-enforcement activity. The study uses general scientific methods of cognition (analysis, synthesis, deduction, systems-structural method, description) as well as special methods (questionnaires, statistical methods). The empirical base consists of official statistics of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia. The conclusion is drawn that the most effective resolution of the investigative situation (the stolen vehicle has not been found and the perpetrator has not been identified) is to conduct a tactical operation consisting of three stages. Particular attention in conducting the operation should be given to the use of road-traffic monitoring systems (the special software “Pautina”), departmental databases (FIS GIBDD-M), as well as the collection of information recorded by video-surveillance cameras. Based on the analysis of modern technologies for obtaining forensic information associated with unlawful encroachments on vehicles, a tactical operation is developed for locating and detaining a wanted automobile. A classification of the tactical operation is defined; its object, aim and tasks are identified; and the order of actions by the investigating subject to implement the operation is set out. For clarity and ease of use, the operation is presented in the form of an algorithm.