This year the award was awarded to Stanislaus County Auto Theft Taskforce (STANCATT) for their case called: “Attack of the Clones. “

The Recoveri Tag What’s Yours Component Parts Marking Award was presented by IAATI Director Reg Phillips (Canada) and President J.D. Hough (AZ) to the Stanislaus County Auto Theft Taskforce (STANCATT) August 6, 2018, at the 2018 International Association of Auto Theft Investigators International Training Conference in Pittsburgh, PA

When this auto task force “looked a little deeper”, they demonstrated very effectively how components parks marking are more than just a way to ID a vehicle! By connecting the dots they were able to discover and shut down a criminal enterprise beyond just a stolen vehicle.

SYNOPSIS for “Attack of the Clones”

On August 4, 2017, Central Division Stanislaus County Auto Theft Task Force (STANCATT) initiated a VIN switch investigation, but what started out as an investigation of a possible cloned vehicle led to much more.

• The recovery of four high-end vehicles valued at over ¼ million dollars
• The seizure of four pistols
• The seizure of 277 pounds of methamphetamine - with a street value over a million dollars
• The claim to the second largest Methamphetamine bust in Stanislaus County history
• And all while checking the ID of a vehicle as an Automotive Theft Taskforce

Recoveri, Tag What’s Yours? is very honored to provide this award to the STANCATT team and would like to congratulate:

• Investigator John French 
• Sgt Lloyd Mackinnon
• Sgt Mayolo Banuelos
• Investigator Matt McCain
• Investigator Kyle Briggs
• Investigator Nolan Thomason
• Investigator Erika Ruano
• Investigator Timothy Fautt
• Detective Dave Wallace

Recoveri, Tag What’s Yours? also wants to encourage others to engage in the world of components parts marking. While in this case it was an OEM VIN label used, there are many labels that can be utilized during an investigation.

OEM - VINs, ID marks, OEM electronic parts marking

Aftermarket - Etching or Branding Solutions, Electronic Parts Marking RF Tags, Microdots, DNA Fluids, UV Light Markings

At your next IAATI training opportunity learn more about these labels and you too can look deeper.