NICB West Region Task Forces - Vehicle Recovery Work

On average, over 2,100 vehicles are stolen every day in the United States. But not all of them remain stolen, nearly 60% of vehicles are recovered. Not by the owners, but often by Auto Theft Task Forces. These groups are made up of local, county, and state law enforcement, along with agents from the National Insurance Crime Bureau. They work together to recover stolen vehicles, make auto theft related arrests, serve search warrants, launch investigations, conduct vehicle inspections, and assist other law enforcement agencies.

Auto Theft Task Forces in the West Region

During the month of July, nine separate Vehicle Task Forces across the western United States recovered a total of 350 stolen vehicles. The value of those recovered rides totals $2,749,558.

In August, those same Vehicle Task Forces recovered 407 stolen vehicles, valued at $3,228,992.

In addition to getting the stolen vehicles back to their rightful owners, many of the recoveries lead to tips or arrests regarding other crimes. One patrol unit stopped a stolen rental car, then learned the individuals inside the car possessed stolen or counterfeit drivers licenses, matching credit cards, and 13 pounds of marijuana. Another team, working a stolen vehicles parts investigation, in turn recovered several cloned vehicles, found various firearms, and nearly 300 pounds of methamphetamine.

Anyone with information concerning insurance fraud or vehicle theft can report it anonymously by calling toll-free 800.TEL.NICB (800.835.6422) or submitting a form on our website.

About the National Insurance Crime Bureau: Headquartered in Oak Brook, Ill., the NICB is the nation's leading not-for-profit organization exclusively dedicated to combatting and preventing insurance crime through Intelligence, Analytics, and Operations; Education and Crime Prevention; and Strategy, Policy, and Advocacy. The NICB is supported by more than 1,200 property and casualty insurance companies and self-insured organizations. NICB member companies wrote over $582 billion in insurance premiums in 2021, or more than 82% of the nation's property-casualty insurance. That includes more than 96% of the nation's personal auto insurance. To learn more, visit www.nicb.org.