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

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8/28/23,12:35 PM MVCPATaskforce Grant Negotiation and Oklahoma. The task force collaborates and communicates with these investigators as well as other Task Force investigators to compare trends in auto theft related crimes. The task force will work with local businesses in developing procedures to prevent auto theft and unknowingly facilitate auto theft. The task force trains and guides other investigators and patrol officers on identifying possible stolen vehicles. The task force also actively works to educate the citizens of our coverage area through social media, public events, and news media. The Northeast Texas Auto Theft Task Force has access to 21 FLOCK cameras, with more currently being added. Investigators actively respond to any LPR hits to intercept stolen vehicles. Investigators also use the LPRs to enter suspect vehicle information to alert local patrol officers of known vehicle theft suspect vehicles being in a particular area. Patrol Officers and/or detectives are then able to respond to the area to help deter or prevent a crime from being committed. The task force has a bait car system that can be utilized. It is generally used for burglaries to help identify suspects; however, we have found in our area suspects burglarizing a motor vehicle will steal the vehicle if they locate a spare key/fob. The stolen vehicle is then used to commit other burglaries or thefts before being discarded or burned. The task force works with the District Attorney's Office to identify prolific offenders, prepare case files, and assist with collecting evidence to present to the courts. The task force often assists agencies from our coverage area in identifying burned, dismantled, and altered vehicles. The task force assists with processing these articles for evidentiary purposes. The task force conducts random salvage dealer and metal recycling yard inspections to locate stolen vehicles. The task force conducts DMV68-a inspections to combat auto theft as well. Due to our task force being mostly rural, one of the most common thefts in our program area are trailer and ATV thefts. Investigators deploy bait trailers with trackers to combat this problem. it has been used with success in identifying and arresting suspects. 3.3 Functions of the proposed program related to fraud -related motor vehicle crime (such as title and registration fraud) The task force investigators have a good working relationship with the tax assessor offices in our program area and will continue to respond to investigate title and registration fraud related crimes. investigators either contact by phone or meet in person with employees of the tax assessor offices to get answers to changing DMV requirements in order to remain knowledgeable on title and registration requirements. Investigators are able to provide this information to local patrol officers to keep them educated on security changes to titles and registrations. The task force investigates fraudulent online purchase of vehicles from dealerships in which the suspect never makes physical contact with the business. The suspect uses stolen information (identity theft) to purchase the vehicle and the dealership will then ship the vehicle to the suspect, not knowing that the information provided was fraudulent until well after the suspect already has possession of the vehicle. The task force educates the public about buying vehicles over social media and receiving fraudulent titles. We have seen this growing trend in our program area where stolen vehicles are being sold with a fraudulent title to unsuspected buyers, generally coming from areas like Dallas and Houston. Generally, the buyer does not know it is a stolen vehicle until they attempt to have the title put in their name or a DMV 68-A inspection is done on it. Task force investigators conduct the DMV 68-A inspections in order to help identify fraudulent title transactions, registration fraud, and stolen and cloned vehicles. 3.4 Functions of the proposed program related to preventing motor vehicle crime (motor vehicle theft, burglary from a motor vehicle and fraud -related motor vehicle crime) The Northeast Texas Auto Theft Task Force believes educating citizens on how not to become a victim of burglaries, vehicle thefts, and other vehicle related crimes is paramount in combating these vehicle crimes. The task force will educate the public on how to research a vehicle prior to purchasing it to prevent a title fraud incident and to prevent them from purchasing a stolen vehicle. The task force places ads with different media outlets as well as makes posts on social media to inform citizens of current trends related to vehicle crimes. Social media will also be utilized to help recover stolen property and identify unknown suspects. Investigators attend community events such as County Fairs and trade shows where they set up booths and display banners and signs. The task force also places signage in highly trafficked areas to help educate and remind citizens of the importance of securing their belongings and locking their vehicles. The task force has Investigators that are TCOLE certified instructors who will deliver multiple TCOLE and Non- TCOLE training courses related to vehicle crimes and prevention to coverage area law enforcement officers. This training will help our rural coverage area counties who have investigators with little to no training on vehicle crimes know what to look for and assist in preventing and the detection of vehicle crimes. The task force will continue to coordinate with program area law enforcement agencies, N/CB, DPS, Oklahoma law enforcement, and other Task Forces across the state to identify trends in motor vehicle thefts, auto burglaries, auto parts thefts, and vehicle fraud cases. 3.5 Functions of the proppsed program for other motor vehicle crimes investigations and activities consistent with the statutory requirements (preventing stolen vehicles from entering Mexico, stopping illegal export of stolen vehicle from bridge/ outbound port operations, disruption of cartel or organized criminal enterprises using stolen motor vehicles or fraud related motor vehicle crime, insurance fraud, eta..) The task force program area is not located near or around any U. S. border or a port of entry/exit. The program area does have (5) counfies along the Texas and Oklahoma border where stolen property frequently enters and leaves the state. The task force will continue to have a wonting relationship with Oklahoma State and Local law enforcement as well as the area Tribal Police. These relationships strengthen the ability to identify criminal organizations, offenders, and recover stolen vehicles. The task force investigators also work with NICB investigators, insurance companies, DistrictAifomey's offices, and DMV investigators to help deter and prosecute offenders who commit insurance and title fraud. The task force has found where vehicles are being falsely reported as stolen and then dumped or burned by the owner. Task force investigators have been able to use cell tower information and other technology to link the crime to the owner in the fraud cases. The task force utilizes informants when possible to obtain information on organized criminal organizations who frequently use or steal motor vehicles as part of their criminal organization. This includes criminal organizations who commit vehicle burglaries to obtain a victim's personal identification, then use that information to purchase vehicles fraudulently. 3.6 Collaboration Effort — Describe the taskforce method to collaborate, and not duplicate existing activities. Describe the cross boundaries regional approach to grant activity implementation. Describe how the applicant staff and jurisdiction will coordinate with other taskforces and law enforcement agencies to implement this program. httpsJlmvcpa.tamu.edulNegotiationrrFGPrintApplication.asp?ApplD=225&FiscalYear-2024 8/12