2023-041 - Authorizing an Inter-Local Agreement between the City of Paris and Hopkins County for a combined task force funded by the Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority for the Northeast Tex

Home Browse Search

8/28/23,12:35 PM MVCPATaskforce Grant Negotiation vehicles are being stolen from hotels and such places with created key fobs. We have seen an increase in the recovery of "cloned" vehicles. In these cases, the vehicles are being stolen in other areas, generally Dallas and Houston areas, and then have all of the VINs replaced so they cannot be easily identified as a stolen vehicle. We are finding these vehicles are then being sold online on places like Facebook marketplace in our areas to unsuspecting buyers, generally with fraudulent titles. When the buyers bring the vehicles to us for 68-A inspections, we are able to use our specialized training to determine the true VIN and determine it as a stolen vehicle. 2.3 Provide an assessment of the fraud -related motor vehicle crime problem in the coverage area of this application. Include loss data consistent with the reported incident numbers above. According to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) and TF Internal Statistics, there were 12 Fraud -Related motor vehicle crimes reporting in 2021 and 15 in 2022. These crimes include Tilde Fraud, Registration Fraud and many times identify theft related crimes. We have found a majority of these cases involve a vehicle being sold with a fictitious title that is generally computer generated and appears to be a State issued title. Several of these cases involve Cloned Vehicles as discussed above. The Task Force has seen an increase in vehicles being fraudulently purchased from dealerships with stolen identities online. Generally, the suspect will use someone else's identity to purchase the vehicle, completely online, and then have the vehicle shipped to another city. In these cases, then: will be multiple victims including the dealership that is out the vehicle, the person who had their identity stolen, as well as generally the bank or lender that financed the vehicle for the "Purchaser." 2A 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... Due to our generally rural geographical area, a large portion of our vehicle thefts are trailers and utility vehicles that are not reflected in the numbers above. Trailers are generally easily stolen and altered. They are then able to be sold to unsuspecting persons. Many times, when trailers are stolen, they have mowing equipment ortrade tools on /in them. The Task Force is able to use ourspecialized training to locate C -VINs and identify a majority of these trailers to get them back to the victims, however, normally any equipment that was on them has already been sold to someone else. Utility Vehicles and farm equipment are also stolen fairly frequently in our areas. The vehicles and equipment generally have the Identification numbers removed or altered making it hard to identify them. The Task Force is able to use our specialized training to assist other agencies in identifying these items to get them back to the victims. The task force has also been seeing vehicle thefts related to insurance fraud. In these instances, the "victim" will report the vehicle stolen and it will later be recovered stripped, burned, or hid out in a storage unit. Several of these cases have been linked back to the "victim" actually committing insurance fraud to get a cash payout for the vehicle or just because they could no longer afford it. 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 fillable 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) The Northeast Texas Auto Theft Task Force takes a proactive and reactive approach to combat burglaries of motor vehicles. As a proactive approach, we educate the public on hiding valuables, locking their vehicles, etc. by setting up booths at public events as well as through news media and social media posts. The task force uses a 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 currently has access to 21 FLOCK cameras in our coverage area with more currently being added. The task force conducts active surveillance when possible, to attempt to capture the suspects in the act of committing the burglaries. The task force investigators have a network of investigators in the program area who share information on burglary of motor vehicles, as well as trends on other auto theft related crimes and property crimes in general as suspects are generally linked. The information shared among these investigators helps develop suspect infonnation, recover stolen property, and help coordinate ways to reduce the burglaries in general. The task force also 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 and citizens to recover security surveillance 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. 3.2 Functions of the proposed program related to motor vehicle theft. The Northeast Texas Auto Theft Task Force dedicates the majority of its time and efforts in the detection, investigation, identification, and recovery of stolen vehicles; as well as preparing criminal cases and arresting vehicle theft suspects. The task force has developed a large network with other investigators in our program area as well as other jurisdictions throughout the State of Texas https://mvcpa.tamu.edulNegoUationrrFGPrintApplication.asp?ApplD=225&FIscalYear-2024 7/12