Vehicle-related crime in Arizona doesn’t include only car theft.
It includes stealing a vehicle without the owner’s consent, stealing its items or components, sales fraud, and also destruction of property as well as violent crimes involving a vehicle.
Different circumstances apply to these types of offenses because those circumstances define the charges.
Crimes related to vehicles in Arizona can be classified into the following categories: theft of a motor vehicle, joyriding, burglary, stealing parts, vandalism, title forgery, car-jacking, and so on. The circumstances and consequences for any such crime depend on numerous aspects, such as intention behind the crime, the value of the stolen property, application of violence, and knowledge about the fact that the vehicle or its parts were stolen.
Motor Vehicle Theft
In practice, motor vehicle theft refers to the most serious and best-known crime. In accordance with the Arizona Revised Statutes § 13-1814, an individual commits motor vehicle theft by knowingly controlling someone else’s vehicle with the intent to deprive its owner permanently, obtaining it through a material misrepresentation with that intent, or controlling it knowing or having reason to know that it is stolen. Motor vehicle theft is classified as a class 3 felony as opposed to property theft.
There is a difference between permanent theft and temporary borrowing of a vehicle. According to A.R.S. § 13-1803, this is known as unlawful use of means of transportation (also known as joyriding) since it comprises using someone else’s vehicle without an intention of keeping it. The law also applies to people knowingly riding in or occupying unlawfully possessed vehicles.
Burglary and Theft From Vehicles
Many vehicle-related crimes include breaking into a car to steal something from it instead of stealing the full car. Among the most common items targeted are wallets, guns, electronics, tools, packages as well as identity documents. A person’s entry and intent determine whether the charges will be theft, criminal damage or burglary.
According to Arizona’s third-degree burglary law, it’s illegal to gain entry into a vehicle using a manipulation key or master key with intent to steal or commit some other felony. Such burglary counts as a class 4 felony. Nonetheless, different unlawful entries could lead to theft or burglary charges depending on the surrounding circumstances.
Theft of Vehicle Parts
Criminals pick up those vehicle parts that can be easily taken and resold once stolen. Tires, wheels, batteries, tailgates, airbags, headlights, and catalytic converters are among the most valued stolen parts. Catalytic converters are in high demand because they are easy to take off the vehicle and contain valuable metals.
In accordance with the law of Arizona, the sale and possession of detached used catalytic converters is controlled, with certain exceptions made for licensed recyclers, repair shops and documented transactions. Commission of the given crime will usually result in a class 1 misdemeanor, though if a criminal unlawfully possesses ten or more converters, he can be charged with a class 6 felony.
Criminal organizations are likely to cut down a stolen vehicle into smaller pieces, selling or concealing its spare parts. Arizona law calls a chop shop any place where thieves or other criminals dismantle, alter, store, reassemble or hide the identity of stolen vehicles and parts.
Vehicle Vandalism and Criminal Damage
In law, vandalism implies either intentional scratches or damage done to a car’s finishing or breaking its windows and tires. At the same time, all the above-mentioned acts may fall under the criminal-damage statute in Arizona. A charge usually depends on the amount of damage caused.
Title, Registration, Odometer, and VIN Fraud
Vehicle fraud usually occurs with private transactions and sales. Fraud includes fake titles, liens, rolled-back odometers, false bills of sale, title washing, and stolen salvage cars being sold.
According to Arizona law, it is a crime to remove, alter or destroy a vehicle identification number as well as to possess a stolen vehicle with a changed VIN.
Carjacking and Vehicle-Related Robbery
In Arizona, carjacking is not treated as a distinct offense. When a person uses threats or force to take a car from the driver, the case can end up as robbery, aggravated robbery, armed robbery, assault, kidnapping, or vehicle theft. Class 4 felony is the designation for robbery, while armed robbery is classed as a class 2 felony.
Several offenses can arise from one occurrence in practice. Criminal damage, burglary, theft, car theft, fraud, etc., can take place during the same incident, whether breaking a car window, entering a vehicle, stealing property, changing a VIN, or selling it. The actual crime and punishment depend on the defendant’s intent, value of the property, previous convictions, and other circumstances.
