Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD) RADIO Practice Exam

What constitutes vehicle theft?

1. Altering a vehicle's identification number

2. Taking someone else's vehicle without permission

3. Parking a vehicle without a permit

4. Using a vehicle for a joyride

The correct answer is: Taking someone else's vehicle without permission

Vehicle theft is primarily defined as the act of taking someone else's vehicle without their consent. This criminal act involves the unlawful appropriation of a vehicle, which can include cars, trucks, motorcycles, or any other motorized means of transport. The essence of vehicle theft lies in the lack of permission from the vehicle’s owner, which distinguishes it from other actions related to a vehicle. While altering a vehicle's identification number and using a vehicle for a joyride may be related unlawful activities, they are not fundamentally what constitutes vehicle theft. Altering identification numbers can be an attempt to disguise the vehicle's true ownership, and joyriding typically implies temporary use without intent to permanently deprive the owner of their property. Parking a vehicle without a permit does not involve taking the vehicle unlawfully and is generally treated as a parking violation, rather than a theft crime. Therefore, the key component that defines vehicle theft is the unauthorized taking of someone else's vehicle.