2023-011 - Approving and Authorizing and Interlocal Agreement Between the City of Paris and Lamar County Concerning the Northeast Texas Auto Theft Task Force

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dealerships have had subjects attempt to purchase motor vehicles through the Internet by means of fraudulent information. The during these investigations the Task Force has worked with other law enforcement agencies as well other Task Forces to detain and arrest the individuals responsible. The subjects are charged with theft, and the identify theft victim usually files the Identity Theft with their local jurisdiction. The Task Force has learned that the subjects that are taken into custody are usually not the mastermind behind the criminal acts, and that there is a larger network of the criminal element behind these type crimes. 2.4 Provide an assessment of motor vehicle crime not covered above like insurance fraud, preventing stolen vehicles from entering Mexico, bridge/port stolen vehicle export crime, disruption of cartels and organized criminal enterprises related to motor vehicle crime, etc... Another issue to the theft of motor vehicles in the program area is insurance fraud. The insured person will either bum the vehicle themselves or hire another to destroy the vehicle. The insured person will then report the vehicle as stolen to their local agency in order to collect an insurance payment. These crimes occur when a person is not financially able to pay for the vehicle, in another financial hardship, or the vehicle has serious mechanical issues. The task force is frequently contacted by agencies in the program area to assist in these type investigations. Whether to identify the vehicle burned or dismantled, interview the victim/ suspect, prepare search warrants, and or present the cases for prosecution. Insurance fraud is in an upward trend, even in the rural areas, which may be related to economic problems. The task force has also used informants to infiltrate criminal enterprises running chop shops. Due to the geographical area of the program coverage areas, a large number of stolen vehicles are transported from the Dallas/Ft Worth area into the program area. The task force coordinated with the local agencies to recover stolen vehicles, arrest persons responsible, and assist in the preparation of cases for prosecution. Grant Goals and Activities There are two parts to this section: 1) Functions of Proposed Program and 2) Goals Strategies and Activities (GSA). In the following boxes, describe the functions of the proposed program and then complete a fellable form called GSA. MVCPA programs must completely describe the actions, methods and tactics that law enforcement and civilian staff will perform for each of the categories below. Describe the reliance on technology or other program elements to solve the problem statement above and goals below. Functions must be detailed and consistent with the requested budget. If a grant is awarded, funds expended towards activities not described in this section will result in the reimbursement being denied. Part 1 3.1 Functions of the proposed program related to burglary from a motor vehicle (including theft of parts) It is the intent of the Northeast Auto Theft Task Force, through this application, to continue to serve the citizens of our community and state by carrying out the following programs made possible by Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority. The task force investigators devote majority of their time to locate and recover stolen vehicles, conduct investigations, prepare cases for prosecution, and arresting persons responsible for committing these type offenses. The task force investigators have a network of investigators in the program area who share information on burglary of motor vehicles, and trends on other auto theft related crimes. The information shared among these investigators help develop suspect information, recover stolen property, and help coordinate ways to reduce the burglaries .Since burglary of motor vehicles usually is a random occurring crime, and it's difficult to predict where the crime will occur, the task force uses as bait vehicle in areas frequently victimized to help identify suspects. The task force also uses license plate readers to help locate and identify suspect vehicles traveling to and from areas where the crimes occurred. The task force conducts active surveillance when possible, to attempt to capture the suspects in the act of committing the burglaries. The task force conducts random salvage yard, metal recycling, auto repair shop, and salvage dealer inspections to help deter auto parts thefts. The task Force works with local auto dealerships to help prevent parts thefts from vehicles on their lots. The task force also communicates with local businesses to recovered security footage to assist in the identification of suspects. The task force will assist any agencies with investigations that involve burglary of motor vehicles, theft of auto parts, and motor vehicle thefts. The task force will apply the MVCPA values of investigations, identifying burglary suspects, communicating and collaborating across jurisdictions, identifying prolific burglary offenders, business support, use of technology, and Interrupting organized criminal networks and enterprises. 3.2 Functions of the proposed program related to motor vehicle theft. The Northeast Texas Auto Theft Task Force dedicates majority of its time investigating motor vehicle thefts, and identifying stolen vehicles. The task force has developed a large network with other investigators in program area as well as other jurisdictions throughout the State of Texas and Oklahoma. The task force detectives use several approaches to combat auto theft. Another approach is to help train new investigators, patrol officers, and supervisors on things to look for on identifying a possible stolen vehicle or tools used to commit auto theft. The task force also uses license plate readers and has access to license plate readers placed throughout the coverage area to identify and locate stolen vehicles. These devices are monitored and used on a regular basis by the task force. The task force detectives also use the license plate readers to enter suspect vehicle information to alert local patrol officers of known suspect vehicles in a particular area. This helps detectives and patrol officers respond to the area to deter or prevent a crime from being