Search Warrant "Bag"

[mikehtiger]

Hey everyone,

I am assembling a bag for search warrants. Basically it will contain a battering ram, bolt cutters, a large pry bar, maybe some property sheets etc.

Do any of your departments have something like this, or do you have any ideas of what else I might want to include in the bag? Right now, when we have a search warrant I feel like we are looking all over for a T-post driver (which our chief leaves in his car) grabbing the largest set of bolt cutters I can find, and usually there is a pry bar around, or we borrow equipment from the fire department... Very time consuming, and I want everything we need in one place.

I'm in the process of constructing my own battering ram as well. I think I've got that figured out for the most part.

[Ron-Solo]

Add a digital camera. Get pictures of the damage made upon entry to avoid inflated claims.

Also, photograph e location BEFORE anyone starts searching, and after the search. This reduces the chance of the suspect or associates trashing the place to inflate a claim. Do it on every warrant service for consistency sake.

That simple procedure saved my department thousands of dollars every year.

[mikehtiger]

I totally agree with you on that one, however our officers carry cameras on their belts. Also I'd be scared it would break with all the heavy metal stuff in the bag.

[P5Ret]

Spend the extra money and get a good Halligan tool (they hold up better than commercial pry bars) to go along with or to replace the pry bar. Also a sledge hammer may come in handy when/if you need to breach a security or possibly a fire door.

[FWLTLK]

Talk to the truckies at your local fire dept, forcible entry is one of their specialties.

[michaelthetrojan]

also, i know this is silly but have an extra copy of the search warrant in the bag, i know of two instances when they had is signed but forgot it and got in trouble for knocking down the door with out it.
and knowing which house..

[RickD427]

Add a digital camera. Get pictures of the damage made upon entry to avoid inflated claims.

Also, photograph e location BEFORE anyone starts searching, and after the search. This reduces the chance of the suspect or associates trashing the place to inflate a claim. Do it on every warrant service for consistency sake.

That simple procedure saved my department thousands of dollars every year.

^^^^^THIS^^^^^^

It's also often wise to make a video where you tour the scene with the owner after the search and ask him to point out damage. This allows to you to quantify anything that you did. If he points out bogus damage, its a clear warning to you to so that you can prepare for the phony claim.

I'd stay away from any amateur attempts to make a "Battering Ram." One L.A. County agency fabricated one that had a large metal pole with a hinged "hook" attached to a bulldozer. The idea is the ram would penetrate the residence, the hook would drop, and then it could be used to pull down the wall. It was quickly abandoned once the potential to harm persons inside the location was more fully appreciated.

One alternative we used many years ago before our SWAT teams geared up for warrant services was to use a grapple hook, attached to a long chain, attached to a truck. The hook was attached to the window bars with slack in the chain. The truck would rapidly accelerate, and when the slack was taken up, the bars would come off. It's important to note that residential structures can be "platform framed" (modern method) or "balloon framed" (older method). One consequence of using this technique on a "balloon framed" house is that you may pull the entire wall off when you only wanted the window bars removed. (I'll give you one guess how this was discovered).

[CalCop]

Fireman's style axe, gloves, goggles, bull horn, evidence bags/seals...
Depending on how crazy you wanna get...chains with hooks...

[mixicus]

From the entry tools perspective, depends on how your team is trained (or will be) and what other resources you can have access to (i.e. SWAT's gear truck). Minimum: Full size sledge, Hallagan tool, ram and big bolt cutters. I'd suggest 2 full sets if you plan on using 2 points of entry (again that's related to training). Get the purpose built stuff. Don't DIY it from Home Depot. Blackhawk and others have sets for around $400-500. Also, if you train with them: sheild/body bunker for each entry team on high risk. If you need to snip chain link fences or barbed wire, small wire cutters.

The kit should also contain a digital camera and video camera for pre/documentation as well as CSI. Photo cards or pop ups. Evidence bags of multiple sizes. Faraday bags for computers/cell phones/etc. Property sheets and receipts. Evidence tags. Disposable gloves.

[mixicus]

From the entry tools perspective, depends on how your team is trained (or will be) and what other resources you can have access to (i.e. SWAT's gear truck). Minimum: Full size sledge, Hallagan tool, ram and big bolt cutters. I'd suggest 2 full sets if you plan on using 2 points of entry (again that's related to training). Get the purpose built stuff. Don't DIY it from Home Depot. Blackhawk and others have sets for around $400-500. Also, if you train with them: sheild/body bunker for each entry team on high risk. If you need to snip chain link fences or barbed wire, small wire cutters.

The kit should also contain a digital camera and video camera for pre/documentation as well as CSI. Photo cards or pop ups. Evidence bags of multiple sizes. Faraday bags for computers/cell phones/etc. Property sheets and receipts. Evidence tags. Disposable gloves.

[SquareLite]

I would seriously take the time to learn how to use each tool and practice with them on real doors. Work with code enforcement on finding places to train.

I've seen lots of amateurs go at it and give up the element of surprise because they've never used the breaching tools prior to that situation. It is a huge tactical error that is very easily avoided.

[mikehtiger]

Thanks for all the replies!

I really don't want to do the DIY method (Actually I do for fun, but I'd rather use a real ram), but our department won't buy us one. The ram we use now is a T-Post driver.

Our department is small and only serves "Low risk" search warrants, which is not to say there is no risk involved, but I have yet to actually have to breach a door on a warrant yet. I just wanted a bag of supplies, Mostly breaching tools, that were easily accessible, so we weren't always searching for the tools right before the warrant. Really good suggestions though, and I will be adding many of these tools to the bag.

Thanks again!

[mdib870]

sledge halligan bolt cutters battering ram chains for ripping off security bars
maybe a "bunny tool"

[Tripper]

Thanks for all the replies!

I really don't want to do the DIY method (Actually I do for fun, but I'd rather use a real ram), but our department won't buy us one. The ram we use now is a T-Post driver.

Our department is small and only serves "Low risk" search warrants, which is not to say there is no risk involved, but I have yet to actually have to breach a door on a warrant yet. I just wanted a bag of supplies, Mostly breaching tools, that were easily accessible, so we weren't always searching for the tools right before the warrant. Really good suggestions though, and I will be adding many of these tools to the bag.

Thanks again!

If its such 'low risk' why take any risk? Wouldn't it be better to wait for the subject to come out the front door, then let him escort you back in.

[mikehtiger]

If its such 'low risk' why take any risk? Wouldn't it be better to wait for the subject to come out the front door, then let him escort you back in.

We often do, however there are still times forced entry is needed. On each search warrant I have been on it went down exactly like you said. In fact one time, we waited until someone left and pulled them over to get the key to the home. However we still need these tools just in case something goes wrong, or someone does not want to answer the door.