The North Texas Auto Theft Task Force (NTATTF) consists of two distinct units with target missions. The primary mission of the Auto Theft Unit is to investigate commercial auto theft and their related offenses. The secondary mission is to investigate auto theft as a whole within the three counties it serves. The NTATTF covers Collin and Dallas Counties, which are the crossroads for commercial vehicle traffic in Texas and the southern portion of the United States. The insurance fraud unit investigates “single claim” auto theft insurance fraud.The areas that are covered in Collin, and Dallas Counties consist of four major highways that can lead anyone across the country. They are North and South bound Interstate 35 (I35) and Interstate 45 (I45), as well as East and West bound Interstate 20 (I20) and Interstate 30 (I30). These areas are prime targets for commercial auto theft and related crimes in Texas. In 2006, there were 95,750 vehicles reported stolen. Of that, 20,021 were from Dallas County. The North Texas Auto Theft Task Force recovered 363 vehicles that year. Prevention Tips to help keep your vehicle safe:
*Take your keys
*Lock your car
*Never hide a second set of keys in your car
*Park your car in a well-lighted area
*Do not leave valuables in plain view
*Never leave your car running
Consider VIN Etching. It is a safe and effective way to protect your vehicle from being stolen. The main reason a thief steals a car is to bring it to a chop shop and strip all the parts of the vehicle. The principle behind having your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) etched into the glass, is to make those parts worthless and traceable. So, when a thief approaches your vehicle, statistics show the thief will pass it, and go on to the one that has not been etched.To find out more on VIN Etching, contact the North Texas Auto Theft Task Force (NTATTF) at 214-653-3430. Ask when the next free VIN etching event is!!The NTATTF is funded by grants that are awarded to different agencies through the Texas Automobile Theft Prevention Authority (ATPA). The general fund was established by legislation that requires the collection of a $1.00 premium annually on each vehicle insurance policy issued in Texas. The fee is assessed of all agencies insuring vehicles in Texas, and is collected for ATPA by the Texas Comptroller of public accounts. Capt. Jason Valentine
Captain
Auto theft helpful websites.
2006 Top ten stolen vehicles in Texas:
Pickups are not only popular among Texan drivers, they are also the top targets for Texas vehicle thieves! The Texas Department of Public Safety has released its final MVT19 report on the top vehicles reported stolen in Texas during 2006, and has been the case for several years, the Ford Pickup holds the No. 1 stolen vehicle position. Coming in at No. 2 is the Chevrolet Pickup. In the No. 3 position, the Dodge Pickup also remains a popular target for Texas thieves. 1 Ford Pickup2. Chevrolet Pickup3. Dodge Pickup4.Honda Accord5. Honda CivicVehicles are stolen for a variety of reasons, and contrary to popular belief, the most stolen vehicles are several years old. Some are stolen and stripped for parts. Others are stolen and resold by the thief to another party. Many vehicles are stolen for joyriding, transportation, use in committing other crimes, to support drug habits, or to perpetrate insurance fraud. Vehicle theft cost Texans more money than any other crime-over $757 million in 2004.
The Texas Automobile Thee Prevention Authority (ATPA) a, a division of the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDot), has funded Law Enforcement programs specializing in vehicle theft investigation, recovery, prevention and prosecution since 1991 when Texas reached an all-time high for vehicle theft. Since then, Texas has realized a 43% reduction in the vehicle theft total and a 56% reduction in the vehicle theft rate. Throughout the years, ATPA has worked closely with local, state, and national agencies to reduce auto theft. Currently, ATPA funds 30 grant programs , allowing over 150 Law Enforcement officers through Texas to focus exclusively on the resolution of vehicle theft cases.
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