New York will provide nearly $4 million in grant funding to 29 police departments, district attorneys' offices, and other agencies to combat auto theft and insurance fraud in the state.

“Motor vehicle insurance fraud is a crime that costs New York's consumers and insurers millions of dollars every year,” said Gov. Andrew Cuomo in a press release. “Under the state's motor vehicle theft and insurance fraud prevention program, we are [equipping] local law enforcement agencies with additional resources to combat this problem, enhancing efforts to track down those who break the law and increasing protection for our consumers.”

The grant is available through the state's Motor Vehicle Theft and Insurance Fraud Prevention program, which is overseen by a 12-member board that develops the state's strategy for combating auto theft and insurance fraud, in addition to reviewing grant applications and issuing the grant awards. The state Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) serves as the staff for the board and administers the grant program, which targets the state's urban centers and is funded through a $10 fee assessed on insurance policies issued for vehicles registered in the state.

Recipients will use the grants to target suspected auto insurance fraud and continue efforts to combat vehicle theft, which has been steadily declining in New York. Since 1997, the number of motor vehicle thefts reported in the state has declined 90 percent. In 2012, 18,677 incidents of suspected motor vehicle insurance fraud were reported to the Insurance Frauds Bureau of the state Department of Financial Services (DFS), a 9-percent increase compared to 2011, when 17,121 suspected incidents of fraud were reported. The 2012 incidents included motor vehicle theft; motor vehicle arson; larceny from a vehicle; motor vehicle fraud claims and no-fault insurance claims, all of which were not legitimate.

The 29 agencies receiving grants will use the additional funding in a variety of ways to combat fraud, including: funding either all or a portion of the salaries of assistant district attorneys and investigators specifically assigned to handle motor vehicle theft and insurance fraud cases; funding enhanced enforcement and sting operations; and offering specialized training for prosecutors, police officers and investigators.

A list of how grant money is being allocated to New York agencies appears on the next page.

Statewide Training Grants

New York Anti-Car Theft and Fraud Association (NYACT): $57,000
The New York State Prosecutor's Training Institute (NYPTI): $31,900

New York City

New York City Police Department: a total of $289,700 to two specialized units, the Auto Crime Division and Fraudulent Accident Investigation Squad
Fire Department of New York: $104,900
Bronx County District Attorney's Office: $302,500
Kings County District Attorney's Office: $227,200
New York County District Attorney's Office: $275,000
Queens County District Attorney's Office: $568,200
Richmond County District Attorney's Office: $77,100

Long Island

Nassau County District Attorney's Office: $169,100
Nassau County Police Department: $130,000
Suffolk County District Attorney's Office: $315,100
Suffolk County Police Department: $143,200

Hudson Valley

Westchester County District Attorney's Office: $300,900
Yonkers Police Department: $139,400

Capital Region

Albany Police Department: $36,500
Albany County District Attorney's Office: $68,100

Central New York

Syracuse Police Department: $26,000

Western New York

Erie County District Attorney's Office: $120,700
Monroe County District Attorney's Office: $125,000
Niagara County District Attorney's Office: $152,100
Buffalo Police Department: $121,000
Cheektowaga Police Department: $48,000
Niagara Falls Police Department: $36,500
Rochester Police Department: $42,200
Monroe County Sheriff's Office: $31,200
Niagara County Sheriff's Office: $21,500

Special Reports /

New York Law Enforcement Awarded $4M to Curb Auto Theft and Insurance Fraud

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