Bus Radio Theft Investigation Case
Charles Roberts
SEC/430
June 2, 2014
David Lastra

Bus Radio Theft Investigation Case
One word or term you will always here when you hear about a crime or theft is the word investigation. An investigation will take place after a crime or theft in order for authorities to learn more about the case they are undertaking, and also to find out the reasons for the thefts, possible reasons for the thefts, and why they chose the location or victims of the theft. The case in this example we will discuss is known as Kelsey more specifically as the “Bus Radio Theft Case.” This incident took place at one of the schools in the town of Kelsey, which is known as the Unified School District. The perpetrators, another term known during investigations, were stealing radios from school buses at the Kelsey bus yard. This case took place a few years ago, but there are lessons to be learned by doing a study of the facts, and in doing that one should be able to solve the mystery of the bus radio thefts. I will evaluate how the investigation team of this case produced and accumulated their information, how they made observations, and the consequences from these resolutions built from this information. We will also take a look at a few of the important and very helpful techniques the team used to make this investigation into a success, including conducting interviews with the right people and asking the right questions, as well as how the information was compiled and gathered, all this will be taken into consideration.
This investigation begins with the bus radio thefts, which started when multiple reports of thefts had already come in. The investigation area begins in a large American city somewhere in the southwest part of the country. This area of investigation begins at the Kelsey Unified school bus yard where the buses are typically staged when not being operated. The pattern of thefts have begun with a new radio coming and being installed, and then within 1 to 4 weeks of installation a new report comes in saying that the radio has been stolen (Apollo group, 2011, p.1). The most recent report came in one day ago and this time in order to get this case solved correctly, the lead investigator has been sent in.
Conducting the Investigation
The first step of beginning the investigation process is probably the most important. Documenting the evidence in an effective manner assists the investigation and provides vital information. Interviewing persons of interest, things that are bagged, tagged, and secured cannot be discounted if they have been professionally compiled and documented. Investigators should approach the scene as if this is the only opportunity to preserve and recover physical clues. When defined, “evidence” embodies everything that the investigator will bring in and present in a court of law to support ones case. There are various forms and different types of evidences that one can use and be acceptable in court. Evidence can be real, demonstrative, and testimonial; some evidence may be classified as all three (Osterburg and Ward, 2010). Evidence can be a person, an eyewitness, a thing or something like a fingerprint, or footprint, it can also be something that is not tangible but powerful enough to assess blame on an individual like a surveillance video. Sennewald & Tsukayama (2006, p.152) explains that nonhuman evidences are more valuable because they are incorruptible unlike humans who can be paid to become eyewitnesses.
Documenting
Information collection can prove to be corruptible at times, which is why it is vitally important to know how to collect crime scene information and the proper interviewing of witnesses. The first thing that an investigator should document is the names of people involved in the case and their contact information. Persons that were on duty, persons that have knowledge of the radio installation, security personnel who were on duty, bus drivers, all these are pertinent people to interview. Lead investigator will ensure that all things that have significance with this case get documented, collected and preserved. Things from a crime scene are to be sealed from tampering and secured safely in a place that only authorized personnel can gain access. This is where you label things with levels of importance. Crime scene fingerprints and footprints are important, which is why you spend special attention to chairs, handles, and knobs, all entrances that one would need to use to access the bus deserve special attention. Fingerprints can be analyzed in the police and government database and can be matched against some suspects that have committed crimes previously; this is an important step in solving crimes expeditiously.
Interviews/Finding Information Interviews are accomplished as the first part of the investigation and you many interview the persons more than once. This important aspect of investigation assists with the data collection mainly through one on one interviews and questioning. Interviews are effective with giving the investigator a more complete picture of the crime scene, and these take place throughout the investigation to determine reliability of the facts provided by the interviewee. The people interviewed for this case were all people with knowledge of the incident, anyone who was on the premise during those hours, security guards, bus drivers, as well as some teachers, to include the company that did installations of the radios. You want to ask questions regarding any information they knew about the stolen radios, any information about persons they may have seen, or even persons who have been acting strangely lately. This allows the investigator to organize ones thoughts and maybe learn a little more about the crime that was committed and why.
Scene Observation Once the investigator arrives on the scene, the first thing they would do is survey the area and make a mental picture of the surroundings and any thing that one might deem of interest or anything out of the normal. This is what one might label as the observation period. All crime scenes tell a story. Once you have made your initial observations of the crime scene, then it becomes time to process. Here is where you may have to put on booties, and gloves and make sure that no one is touching things and the area is fairly clear and roped off. A good investigator knows what he or she is looking for and can spot things that are out of the normal. Keep an open mind to all possibilities during the observation period.
Technology Tools A good investigative tool especially with the way technology is improving faster than we can keep up is the use of surveillance equipment. A very important step in the investigation process and obtaining evidence is using current technology, surveillance cameras, access cards, key fobs, and knowledge of combinations. The likelihood of a more successful investigation increases tremendously with video cameras and surveillance camera equipment.
Documentation for Filing Proper document handling becomes legal and admissible in a court of law when all steps have been followed to the letter of the law. Factual written documentation to include date, time, persons involved, all relevant information to include eye witnesses or the results of any DNA, fingerprinting, and also any surveillance videos. With this case most importantly, date and time need to be consistent, interviews should be consistent, and all documented information completed properly to show that investigators were the only people who handled this case. Reviewing this investigation of the Kelsey Radio Bus Theft is really a good example of how investigators need to be thorough and follow all protocols. The investigator in this case completed a thorough investigation at the Kelsey Unified School District Bus yard, and I believe he accomplished the proper steps while documenting and collecting information. This case should be successful.

References
Apollo Group. (2014). WEB LINK: Simulation: Bus Radio Theft Investigation [Computer . Software]. Retrieved from Apollo Group, Simulation, SEC430 website
Osterburg, James & Ward, Richard. (2010). Criminal Investigation: A Method for Reconstructing the Past 6e. Matthew Bender & Company Inc., a member of the LexisNexis Group, New Providence, New Jersey.
Sennewald, C. A., & Tsukayama, J. K. (2006). The Process of Investigation: concepts and Strategies for invesitgators in the private sector (3rd ed.). Burlington, MA: Butterworth–. Heinemann