Which piece of information is vital to ascertain when investigating an auto theft?

Determining the date and time the vehicle was reported stolen is crucial in an auto theft investigation because it establishes a timeline of events that can be pivotal in the investigation process. This information helps law enforcement to pinpoint when the theft occurred, which can be essential for gathering evidence and potentially creating a list of suspects or leads. It can also assist in determining whether surveillance footage is available for that specific time frame, and can aid in understanding the circumstances surrounding the theft.

The other pieces of information, while potentially useful in different contexts, do not provide the immediate temporal context that is necessary for a thorough investigation. Model history might be helpful for background checks or assessing a pattern of thefts, but it is not as foundational as knowing when the vehicle was reported stolen. Insurance details could aid in recovery efforts or financial proceedings but do not directly impact the initial stages of the investigation. Lastly, knowing the last known driver might help identify potential suspects but is secondary to establishing when the crime occurred, which sets the entire investigative process in motion.