Lakewood Police Department
Policy and Procedure
                    		 Effective Date: 03/24/2025
Policy Number: PP-4742 - Recovered Stolen Vehicles


B.         Procedure

1.       An agent shall be dispatched and a Vehicle Impound/Recovery Report completed whenever a stolen vehicle is recovered within the city of Lakewood. This procedure shall be followed whether the recovered stolen vehicle is towed by an agent and removed to the OPG or is released to the owner at the scene.

 

2.       The recovered stolen vehicle may be released to the owner at the recovery scene without being impounded. If the vehicle is a Lakewood steal, it will be processed prior to being impounded or released to the owner.

 

3.       The owner shall sign the release on the Vehicle Impound/Recovery Report when taking custody of his vehicle at the scene.

 

4.       Out-of-jurisdiction recovered stolen vehicles do not require processing unless one of the below listed situations exists:

 

a. There is an obvious nexus to felony criminal activity.

b. Contraband is located inside the vehicle.

c. There are items of value located inside the vehicle.

d. A weapon is located inside the vehicle.

 

5.       Vehicles reported stolen in Lakewood and subsequently recovered in other jurisdictions shall be processed by Lakewood resources in the following instances:

 

a.       When the recovering agency will not do the processing.

b.       When there is evidence that the vehicle was used in a serious crime committed in Lakewood. Lakewood Crime Lab personnel will respond to locations in the Denver metropolitan area.

c.       When an agent or detective requests that a particular vehicle be processed upon its recovery due to possible suspects or use in another crime. The vehicle should be processed by any available trained investigations Technician when the vehicle is located in the Denver metropolitan area. If there is an exigent need to complete the processing and the Investigation’s Technician is not available, the following resources can be used based on their availability.

1) Patrol CSO

2) Patrol CSI

3) Crime Lab

 

6.  The Records Section shall be notified immediately by the police agent whenever a stolen vehicle is recovered so that the vehicle listing can be removed from CCIC/NCIC, or in order that the agency having jurisdiction of the auto theft can be advised, via teletype, of the recovery.

 

7.  Records Section personnel shall send a canceling teletype immediately upon notification that a vehicle stolen in Lakewood has been recovered. If the recovered vehicle was stolen from another jurisdiction, JeffCom personnel shall advise that jurisdiction via teletype of the recovery. A copy of any teletype message regarding an auto theft or recovery shall be printed and placed in the Property TTY basket for the Theft Team by the Records Section.

 

  1. When a Lakewood agent recovers a vehicle stolen in Lakewood, the agent shall contact the Records Section to confirm the stolen entry and request a TTY number.  Records shall clear the stolen vehicle from CCIC/NCIC.
  1. When a Lakewood agent recovers an outside agency stolen vehicle, the agent shall contact JeffCom to request confirmation on the stolen vehicle via CCIC/NCIC. JeffCom shall forward the teletypes to Records via CCIC/NCIC to be attached to the incident in Niche.    

 

8.       Jeffcom personnel will, immediately after canceling the CCIC/NCIC entry, notify the owner of the stolen vehicle of its recovery. If the owner of the vehicle cannot immediately respond and take control of their vehicle, they shall be advised where it has been impounded and who to contact to secure its release.

 

9.       When a vehicle stolen from Lakewood is recovered by the Police Department prior to its being reported as stolen, the agent receiving the information shall obtain a case report number from Jeffcom and complete an offense report and Vehicle Impound/Recovery Report.

 

10.     Agents are not required to book property located in an out-of-jurisdiction recovered stolen vehicle unless it falls under section B.4. of this policy. If the property in the vehicle does not belong to the owner, he/she should be told to contact the jurisdiction in which it was reported stolen. If that jurisdiction refuses to take possession, the owner should be informed that they may dispose of the property as they see fit.


 C. Rule 

In all cases where a vehicle stolen from within the city of Lakewood is recovered, every effort shall be made to notify the owner, and this effort shall be documented.