New York State - Division of Criminal Justice Services

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One theft for transportation investigation targeted a group of suspects who werebelieved responsible for more than 70 motor vehicle thefts in a five-month period. Mostof the thefts occurred within the city of Rochester but some were in the surroundingtowns of Monroe County. Some of the vehicles were also being used to commitburglaries.On several occasions, members conducting surveillance observed criminal actscommitted by individuals other than those being investigated and were required tointervene. That involvement resulted in arrests and included the recovery of a .22caliber rifle, 140 grams of marijuana and seizure of 2,398.Theft for Retag or ResaleIn 2009, 15 cases where vehicles were stolen and retagged for resale or forpersonal use were investigated. Associated with this type of theft was a dramatic rise inmotorcycle thefts during the year within the city of Rochester and in Monroe County.Theft for PartsDepartment members also conducted 12 investigations in 2009 related to thetheft of vehicles for parts. Some of their investigations show that the a street racinggroup is not only involved in retagging vehicles and motorcycles, but are also suspectedof selling stolen parts.Theft for ScrapIn 2009, the department investigated 10 cases of vehicles stolen and sold forscrap. This was a decrease from the 15 cases investigated in 2008.In previous years, these crimes almost always involved the use of DMV MV 37forms (Statement of Abandoned Vehicle) for disposal of the vehicle. Changes in theform and scrap processors being told not to accept vehicles on these forms except fromregistered itinerant vehicle collectors has resulted in a change in this crime. Suspectsare now using DMV MV 35 forms (Statement of a Vehicle Owner Who Does Not Have aValid Title)The suspects in these cases are scrappers who scout neighborhoods forapparent junk or unregistered vehicles on residential properties.Larcenies to VehiclesIn 2009, Rochester was plagued by an increase in larcenies to vehicles. Therewere 2,663 reported vehicle larcenies during the year and many included damage tovehicle windows, locks, dashboards or doors to facilitate the larceny. GPS units, cellphones, digital cameras, purses and golf clubs were some of the more common itemsstolen from inside vehicles.NYS DIVISION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES MVTIFP BOARD / ANNUAL REPORT 2009 Page 72
Insurance FraudsInsurance frauds were varied: Five investigations involved vehicles beingreported as stolen in attempt to cover up the insured’s vehicle being involved in a motorvehicle accident.Another fraud investigation involved a vehicle being reported as stolen that waslater recovered burned. The investigation revealed that several days after purchasingthe vehicle, the insured found mechanical problems and difficulty obtaining a title.Additional fraud cases include the reported theft of a vehicle to hide the insured’sinvolvement in a shoplifting incident, a case where the insured filed a claim for accidentdamage for which he had already been paid for but did not have repaired, and thereported theft of a vehicle where the insured was having financial difficulties.Coordinated EffortsThe Rochester Police Department continues to work closely with other local lawenforcement agencies on motor vehicle related investigations. Each month membersattend a meeting hosted by the Monroe County DA's office. All local agencies areinvited regardless of their involvement with the Auto Theft Task Force. Recent trendsand active cases are discussed by the group. Suspected fraud referrals from insurancecompanies to the state Insurance Fraud Bureau are read and discussed. A secondmeeting of Task Force member agencies is held later in the month. Members haveattended 20 such meetings this year. Additionally, 15 intra-departmental command staffmeetings were attended by members of the Auto Theft Task Force in 2009 to discussmotor vehicle theft patterns and strategy implementation. Task Force members alsoattended two MVTIFP Board Statewide Advisory Group meetings this year.TrainingMembers continue to provide motor vehicle theft and vehicle identificationtraining to all police recruits attending the Monroe Community College Public SafetyTraining Facility. A total of 50 recruits from Rochester Police Department and theMonroe County Sheriff’s Office received the training in 2009.In 2010, the member assigned to the Auto Theft Task Force attended a DCJSsponsoredlatent fingerprint school to enable recovered vehicles to be processed forprints. Other training included four members attending the Northeast InternationalAssociation of Auto Theft Investigators training seminar in Buffalo, two membersattending the DCJS- LPR seminar in Batavia and one member attending the New YorkProsecutors Training Institute/New York Anti-Car Theft and Fraud Association training inBuffalo.NYS DIVISION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES MVTIFP BOARD / ANNUAL REPORT 2009 Page 73
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Table of ContentsPageI. Introductio
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All of the tasks outlined above are
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addition, officers representing 16
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1000Motor Vehicle Theft Rate/100K P
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The Division of Criminal JusticeSer
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These crimes add an estimated 10% t
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per 100,000), Richmond County (111.
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2. Methods for combating the proble
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SUMMARY OF BOARD ACTIVITY ON Septem
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DCJS StaffRon DickensVal Friedlande
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Western Region AgenciesAmountApplic
Page 26 and 27: VI. 2009 Grant Program Descriptions
Page 28 and 29: According to the New York City Poli
Page 30 and 31: in 2009, an enterprise corruption i
Page 32 and 33: corporation that defrauded the city
Page 34 and 35: In the area of insurance fraud, muc
Page 36 and 37: Despite warnings and public service
Page 38 and 39: Patrol Borough Manhattan North repo
Page 40 and 41: confines of Brooklyn South and the
Page 42 and 43: ecovered with seats, doors, and oth
Page 44 and 45: Borough Queens North are evidenced
Page 46 and 47: FAIS STRATEGIES• Use confidential
Page 48 and 49: motor vehicle insurance fraud are d
Page 50 and 51: investigation and utilized all reso
Page 52 and 53: the help of funding received from o
Page 54 and 55: with investigators from both agenci
Page 56 and 57: offering hands-on demonstrations re
Page 58 and 59: Western RegionBuffalo City Police D
Page 60 and 61: agencies with similar investigation
Page 62 and 63: PD, National Insurance Crime Bureau
Page 64 and 65: Another case that was recently indi
Page 66 and 67: complainant; this is now happening
Page 68 and 69: Niagara Falls City Police Departmen
Page 70 and 71: motor vehicles are assigned to this
Page 72 and 73: The District Attorney’s Office sp
Page 74 and 75: scene; younger suspects would use t
Page 78 and 79: Rochester Police DepartmentPerforma
Page 80 and 81: Both agencies are continuing the in
Page 82 and 83: November 2009 - A targeted patrol o
Page 84 and 85: where defendants seek specific part
Page 86 and 87: had knowledge that the car was stol
Page 88 and 89: Reported Incidents of Motor Vehicle
Page 90 and 91: Incidence of Motor Vehicle Thefts:
Page 92 and 93: REPORTED MOTOR VEHICLE THEFTS: 2008
Page 94 and 95: Motor Vehicle Thefts Rates per Popu
Page 96 and 97: Motor Vehicle Thefts Rates per Regi
Page 98 and 99: Motor Vehicle Insurance Fraud Suspe
Page 100: MVIF 2009 Rate per Population2009Ra
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New York State - Division of Criminal Justice Services

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