Major Crimes Unit

AUTO SQUAD
Whitaker & Macalester Streets
The Auto Squad has citywide jurisdiction to locate vehicle chop shops, investigate stolen auto rings and routinely coordinates investigations with the insurance industry, law enforcement agencies in the surrounding PA counties, in New Jersey, with US Customs and with Federal Bureau of Investigation. They offer technical expertise to every Police District in the city with the identification of abandon vehicles, many of which are stolen. They also conduct monthly classes for police officers in stolen auto investigation. Also attend community meetings for the purpose of teaching persons how not to become victims of auto theft. For public's use there is a hot line answering machine (215-685-9126) Phone # 215-685 9130, 9137, Fax # 215-685-9138.

CARE UNIT (Crimes Against the Retired and Elderly)
39th & Lancaster Ave. 2nd floor 16th Police District.
The Crimes Against the Retired and Elderly Unit (CARE) primarily investigates Frauds, Flimflams and Scams, and Abuse or Neglect where the complainants are elderly. There is a proactive effort made to inform community groups, and social agencies of criminal activity and preventive measures. Phone # 215-685-9486, 8487, Fax # 215-685-9481.

COMPUTER CRIMES UNIT
24th & Wolf St. (basement of the 1st District).
The unit conducts criminal investigations where computers and or computer related technology is encountered. Conducting forensic examinations of seized computers, and investigates crimes facilitated by computer also provides investigative support to other units. Phone # 215-685-1658, Fax # 215-685-9481

CRIME ANALYSIS UNIT
39th & Lancaster Ave. 2nd floor 16th Police District.
The function of this unit is to analyze and track robbery patterns that occur throughout the city, and produce information for distribution to all districts and units in the Police department. Phone # 215-656-3396, 3397 Fax # 215-685-9481.

ECONOMIC CRIME UNIT
39th & Lancaster Ave. 2nd floor 16th Police District.
The function of the Economic Crime Unit is to investigate and uncover cases of organized fraud, and coordinate all interagency fraud investigations with County, State, and Federal Law enforcement agencies.
Phone # 215-685-9486, 9487 Fax # 215-685-9481.

PAWNSHOP INVESTIGATION UNIT
39th & Lancaster Ave. 2nd floor 16th Police District.
Pawnshop Investigation Unit is responsible for coordinating the investigation of pawnshops and their operation to ensure compliance with the city ordinances and state banking regulations. They also monitor the precious metal dealers who operate within the confines of the city. The Unit also conducts an annual background investigation on pawnbrokers and their employees for renewal of their pawn brokers license. They also investigate new applicants for pawnbroker's license. Acts as a liaison with state, county, local and federal law enforcement agencies, assisting in the investigation of property crimes of Jewelry store robberies, Art / Antiquity / Artifact theft, and interstate theft.
Phone # 686-3396, 3397, Fax # 685-9481

ROBBERY/BURGLARY UNIT
39th & Lancaster Ave. 2nd floor 16th Police District.
The Major Crimes robbery / burglary unit investigates City - wide robbery and burglary patterns. The focus of the unit is on robberies and burglaries of a similar nature occurring in more than one division.
Phone # 215-686-3396, 3397 Fax # 215-685-9481.

LINEUP UNIT
39th & Lancaster Ave. 2nd floor 16th Police District.
The lineup unit conducts the court-mandated lineups for the city of Philadelphia. This process is governed by law and is coordinated along with a court administrator, prison official and representatives from the District Attorney Office, Public Offender Office and Divisional Detectives. Phone # 215-685-9485, 215-685-7935, Fax # 215-685-9481

MAJOR CRIMES FEDERAL TASK FORCES

US INSURANCE FRAUD TASK FORCE
Since 1995 Major Crimes has detailed one Detective to the task force which is comprised of Postal Inspectors, members of National Insurance Crime Bureau, Health and Human Services, Internal Revenue Service and the US Attorneys' office. Their mission is to conduct investigations into Insurance and Health Care; Fraud conducted by organized entities, health care professionals, and attorneys. This task force works out of the Federal Building 615 Chestnut St.-Phone # 215-931-5962, Fax # 215-931-5979.

US POSTAL SERVICE TASK FORCE
Since 1992 Major Crimes has detailed one Detective to the Postal Inspectors working with Inspectors on investigating external crime committed against the US Post Office. This task force conducts investigations occurring within the City of Philadelphia, which are committed against Postal customers, employees and Postal property. Crimes include robbery, burglary, mail theft, check and credit card fraud and theft, prohibited mailing such as threatening communications. This task force works out of the Main Post Office at 30th & Market St., Phone # 215-895-8511, Fax # 215-895-8470

US SECRET SERVICE TASK FORCE
Since 1990 Major Crimes has detailed one detective to work along with the US Secret Service task force. The types of Fraud investigated are Credit Card Fraud, Bank fraud committed by use of false identification, Treasury check fraud, frauds involving ATM machines, sale and counterfeiting of Food Stamps, and Debit cards and fraud against telecommunications industries. This task force works out of the Federal Building at 600 Arch St. Phone # 215-861-3300, Fax # 215-861-3311.

FBI VIOLENT OFFENDER TASK FORCE
The task force was started in 1991 and has two Detectives assigned who work along with eleven FBI Special Agents. The task force works closely with all departmental investigative units and coordinates with other local and federal agencies regarding the investigation of bank robberies, armored car robberies, kidnapping and extortion cases in the Philadelphia area. This unit works out of the Federal Building 600 Arch St. Phone #215-418-4148 or 4153, Fax # 215-418-4160.

FBI CRIMINAL INTELLIGENCE TASK FORCE
The Criminal Intelligence Task Force has had one investigator assigned since 1995. This task force includes PA and NJ State troopers and agents from the PA State Attorney office. Their mission is to identify the nature and extent of the Russian / Eastern European emigrant crimes within Philadelphia area in order to combat the threat of Russian / Eastern European Organized Crime. This task force works out of the Federal Building at 600 Arch St. Phone # 215-418-4175, Fax # 215-418-4232.

FBI PROPERTY CRIMES TASK FORCE
Since 1991 Major Crimes has had one Detective assigned to this task force and works closely with the Criminal Intelligence and the Violent Crime task force in their investigations. Also actively investigates property crimes of Jewelry store robberies, Art / Antiquity / Artifact theft, Fencing operations, Car Jacking, auto theft / chop shop activity, cargo and interstate theft. This task force is also located in the Federal Building at 600 Arch St. Phone # 215-418-4133, Fax # 215-418-4232.