|
committed.
<br />The task force detectives also use a bait car system , mainly for burglaries, to help identify suspects. It's has been a trend in the
<br />program area for suspects to burglarize a motor vehicle, I locate the spare key/fob, and then steal the motor vehicle. The stolen
<br />vehicle is then used to commit other burglaries or thefts before being discarded. The task force will work with the District Attorneys to
<br />identify prolific offenders, prepare case files, and assist with collecting evidence to present to the courts. The task force will assist
<br />any request from the program area to help identify burned, dismantled, altered vehicles ( including trailers). The task force will also
<br />assist with the processing of the same articles for the collection evidence purposes. The task force conducts random salvage dealer,
<br />metal recycling yard, and conducts DMV68-a inspections to combat auto theft as well.
<br />The task force collaborates and communicates with other task forces to compare trends in auto theft. The task force also
<br />communicates with other jurisdictions inside the program area to develop a plan of action to combat these trends, and combat the
<br />organized criminal networks responsible for auto thefts. The task force will work with local businesses by helping them develop
<br />procedures to prevent auto theft and unknowingly facilitating auto theft.
<br />The task force will apply the MVCPA values of investigations, identifying auto suspects, communicating and collaborating across
<br />jurisdictions, identifying prolific burglary offenders, business support, use of technology, and Interrupting organized criminal networks
<br />and enterprises.
<br />3.3 Functions of the proposed program related to fraud -related motor vehicle crime (such as title and registration fraud)
<br />The task force detectives keep a good working relationship with the tax assessor offices in the program area. The task force
<br />detectives try to meet with the employees or contact them by phone to get answers to changing DMV requirements in order to
<br />maintain knowledgeable on the title and registration requirements. The task force detectives frequently disseminate the information
<br />collected to local and area patrol officers to educate them on security changes to titles and registrations.
<br />Task force detectives conduct DMV 68-A inspections in order to help identify fraudulent title transactions, registration fraud, stolen,
<br />and cloned stolen vehicles. In 2019 the task force conducted 519 DMV 68-A inspections and 506 for 2020. This service is offered by
<br />the task force for the program area, and sometimes outside the program area if the service is not available to that area.
<br />The task force has also worked with local dealerships to educate them on how to detect and minimize the possibility of receiving
<br />fraudulent information from a potential customer for the purchase of a vehicle. The task force has worked several cases where
<br />dealerships sells a vehicle over the phone or Internet and the purchaser uses stolen information ( identity theft). The dealership then
<br />will ship the vehicle to the suspect, not knowing that information was fraudulent until after the suspect takes possession of the vehicle.
<br />The task force also educates the public about purchasing a vehicle through the internet or social media and receiving a fraudulent title.
<br />This has been a growing trend throughout the state where stolen vehicles are being sold with a fraudulent file to unsuspected buyers.
<br />The task force will continue to work these type cases, but has found that most of the time these offenses originated in another
<br />jurisdiction or state.
<br />3.4 Functions of the proposed program related to preventing motor vehicle crime (motor vehicle theft, burglary from a motor vehicle and
<br />fraud -related motor vehicle crime)
<br />The Northeast Texas Auto Theft Task Force detectives feel that the first thing in preventing a crime is to educate the citizens how not
<br />to become a victim. The task force will place ads, literature, conduct speaking events, attend community events, and place signage in
<br />highly trafficked areas to help educate and remind the public of the importance of securing their belongings and locking their vehicles.
<br />It has been the experience of the task force detectives that most people feel secure in their homes and property. This leads to
<br />complacency in some cases where the person forgets or feels there is no need to lock their vehicle and homes, Thus leading to
<br />suspects taking advantage of the victim by burglarizing their vehicles, homes, and stealing their motor vehicle. The task force
<br />detectives believe educating the public on ways to prevent these type crimes will help reduce the amount of burglary of motor
<br />vehicles, theft of firearms, theft of auto parts, identify theft, and theft of motor vehicles.
<br />The task force detectives will continue to coordinate with program area law enforcement agencies, NICB, DPS, Oklahoma law
<br />enforcement, as well task forces across the state to identify trends in burglary of vehicles, auto parts thefts, vehicle fraud cases, and
<br />theft of motor vehicles. The task force will continue conduct covert operations, deploy bait vehicles, bait trailers, and continue the
<br />use of the license plate reader system currently in place in the participating area.
<br />The task force will continue to educate the public in how to research a vehicle in order to avoid a title fraud incident, and to educate
<br />the public on the services available to them to avoid purchasing a stolen vehicle.
<br />3.5 Functions of the proposed program for other motor vehicle crimes investigations and activities consistent with the statutory
<br />requirements (preventing stolen vehicles from entering Mexico, stopping illegal export of stolen vehicle from bridge/ outbound port
<br />operations, disruption of cartel or organized criminal enterprises using stolen motor vehicles or fraud related motor vehicle crime,
<br />insurance fraud, etc...)
<br />The program area is not located near or around U.S. border or a port of entry/exit. The program area does have (5) five counties
<br />along the Texas and Oklahoma border where stolen property frequently enters and leaves the state. The task force detectives will
<br />continue to have a working relationship with Oklahoma State and local law enforcement as well the area Tribal Police. These
<br />relationships will strengthen the ability to identify criminal organizations, offenders, and recover stolen vehicles and property from
<br />vehicles.
<br />The Northeast Texas Auto Theft Task Force spends majority of its time investigating auto thefts , burglary of motor vehicles, building
<br />
|