Any forensic photo specialists?

[jsboening]

Got off work early last night and notice someone strange at my neighbors house. When I pulled in to check it out. This guy comes racing out of my neighbors garage, jumps in his truck a takes of like a bat out of ****. I get my truck turned around and head after him. I finally somewhat caught up with this guy and snap a photo of his truck with my cell phone as he screams though the stop sign without stopping. Anyway at this point I decide to give up the chase. Don't want to see anyone get hurt. I call 911 and tell them whats going on. They tell me to go back to the neighbors and wait for a sheriffs deputy. When she gets there about 45 minutes later I tell her the story and show her the picture on my phone. Of course the picture quality sucks! I tell her that if I send it to my computer I can blow it up(yeh right!). So the best I can make out is CA 67827. Can anyone else make it out any better. I left the deputy a voice mail tonight, so I'm assuming I'll hear from her tomorrow. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!!!

 

[MrJimi]

I'm not a forensic anything but I do wish I had the programs they have on CSI
This is the best I could do with my wimpy stuff
what kind of phone do you have that takes a nice picture like that? I want one

 

[DirtHauler]

Had a buddy that had real neat photo program that could've claered that up but he's since paased away and I don't have access to it, this is the best I could do with the "mickey-mouse" one I have, see if ya can make out the plate, your eye's are probably better than mine!
Try saving it and opening it with windows picture and fax viewer and then zoom in.

 

[mjncad]

So the best I can make out is CA 67827. Can anyone else make it out any better. I left the deputy a voice mail tonight, so I'm assuming I'll hear from her tomorrow. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!!!

I ran the photo through Paint Shop Pro X2, and it looks like the number you guessed; but I can't be sure. A partial plate number, state of issue, and the vehicle description should allow the cops to track down the bad guy...assuming that the truck and/or plates aren't stolen.

What gripes me is that in Colorado we have so many specialty plates (e.g. Broncos, pioneers, firefighters, vets, Columbine, boob rot, etc, etc, etc, ad nauseum) that it becomes tough to tell the state a plate belongs to, let alone the number. I'd hate to be a cop trying to identify car plates these days.

 

[SCDolphin]

email the picture to me SCDolphin@sc.rr.com and let me work on it.

Thanks

Hugh Sammons

 

[FatCop]

JSBOENING,

Good eyes. It looks like you got the plate right. Let us know how everything pans out.

 

[Egon]

Why does not the Law Enforcement Officer have the photo and have their experts working on it?

 

[shvl73]

What gripes me is that in Colorado we have so many specialty plates (e.g. Broncos, pioneers, firefighters, vets, Columbine, boob rot, etc, etc, etc, ad nauseum) that it becomes tough to tell the state a plate belongs to, let alone the number. I'd hate to be a cop trying to identify car plates these days.

Seems that way in most states these days. I don't think its a good thing.

 

[jsboening]

I took the picture from my Samsung camera phone. I also have a brief 15sec video clip of part of the chase. When I showed the deputy the picture on my phone she kind of shrugged it off. I don't blame her, My phone has a 2 inch monitor so it's very hard to make things out on it. I asked her if I could email the picture to the computer in her car. She said they weren't able to do that. So I told her that I would send it to my computer at home and see if I could make out the plate number. She gave me a card with her phone number on it. I called this morning and it's just a voice mail box. I imagine if the gave out their actual numbers the wouldn't get anything done with people calling all the time. I hope to hear back from her today. I don't know if she is working or not. I'll ask her if I can email it to someone at the department. I really want to get this guy. My neighbor asked me to watch out for his place a few days before he left. I don't want to let him down. Anyway I also went over there last night and closed the door opening off with some OSB and about 40 ardox nails I also tried to call my neighbor on his cell phone but it's either off or he didn't take it. It goes straight to his voice mail. I imagine the sheriff's department has already left him a message. Great way to finish a vacation

 

[Treemonkey1000]

Geez you have enough detail there with the color of the truck, the type of truck and a partial plate they should be able to come up with a list of people who own that type of truck..Great thinking to take the picture. Now as long as you don't get a ticket for not driving with both hands on the wheel

 

[petegoud]

I blew up the picture using Photoshop 7. It looks like you got the numbers right. You should be thankful you don't live in Washington State, You'd probably be given a ticket for driving while using a cell phone. Have you thought of posting the video on YouTube? Maybe somebody might recognize the truck.

 

[magyarbacsi]

How much effort police give to investigate a crime depends on the seriousness of the offense. You have not mentioned what the culprit do. Was he about to commit a burglary and you spooked him? It is obvious he had no good intentions and was about to/did commit a crime.

You're a good neighbor and did more than most. It's frustrating when the cops respond to a burglary after the fact,and during the investigation a "witness" will approach you to tell you that they saw a suspicious person/car at the house but did not think to call or get involved. And in WA. it is not a crime to use your cell phone while driving, yet, only if you are sending text. I wish it was.

 

[jsboening]

This guy had broken/kicked my neighbors garage door in. If he didn't do it than why did he tear off in his truck and endanger his life and everyone else one the road? In my opinion, he should be glad we weren't in Texas, I would have shot first and asked questions later! Go Texas!!

 

[petegoud]

Magyarbacs, you are correct for now about the cell phone use in WA. As of July this year there will be a ban on using handheld cell phones. I'm assuming that will also include using a cell phone for taking photographs. Why it doesn't include coffee cups, CD's, or other forms of distractions, like talking to a passenger riding with you, I'll never know. But they do, and they make these laws.

 

[jsboening]

It would be worth the ticket to catch this guy. I can't even tell you how many times I've avoided a speeding ticket because the cop had his head buried in his computer. No I don't drive like a maniac! I think its just the world we have made for ourselves. We have distractions everywhere and I think it's going to be impossible to police this. Maybe we need cameras Everywhere? 1984 anyone? Anyone else feel were being lawed to death? I see our fredom shrinking more every year. How about an ammendment to repeal some of the laws?

 

[daTeacha]

From the pic, the truck looks to be a late model Ford, probably F150, looks like 4 wheel drive, and the big exhaust tip should tell something about the engine. Even I can see the Michigan plate, so you know the guy is fairly local, or at least the truck is.

The problem here is that the sheriff deputy you spoke with has limited time to work on this, and, despite what you see on TV, may not really care about a thwarted B&E. She probably thinks there is little chance for a conviction even if the guy is caught since there is no proof in your video that he has done anything other than drive fast to get away from you. His lawyer may paint you as a person who he cut off in traffic or something and who took after him seeking to do him bodily harm so he fled your violent nature.

I admire your efforts, and urge you to be persistent, maybe taking it up the ladder in the Sheriff's office if the deputy doesn't respond. You might even get a detective working on it instead of a patrol officer, especially if there have been break-ins in the area lately.

 

[Runner]

The wheels and rear bumper make the truck an '08 Ford Super Duty.

Seems to me that if he kicked in the door, there's property damage, so assuming they can prove he's the guy, he did do something illegal.

 

[Keith01]

I wish all my neighbors were as on the ball as you are!

But as far as the plate number tracing back to that truck, two things;
stolen plate
or stolen truck.

Most crooks doing breakins cannot afford a $40,000 pickup.

But who knows, maybe this crook isn't too smart? Are any of them?

good luck,
Keith in SC

 

[leftturn7m]

Someone with the right computer program could possibly get a glimpse of the genius through the side mirror. I agree with the truck being an '08 Ford Super Duty. If you see two exhaust tips, it is diesel.

 

[Luremaker]

Someone with the right computer program could possibly get a glimpse of the genius through the side mirror. I agree with the truck being an '08 Ford Super Duty. If you see two exhaust tips, it is diesel.

Some people actually think what they see on CSI is "real"!!! The CSI producers probably have a larger $ budget per episode than all the RCMP's crime labs combined get in a year. If the cops there are like our cops around here they really could not care less about a break n enter. Hope they catch the guy.