Countywide : Task Force Formed to Fight Auto Theft

A task force organized to reduce auto thefts in Orange County is expected to start up next month, with officers from participating law enforcement agencies immediately beginning undercover operations.

Formed by the district attorney’s office, the Vehicle Theft Task Force will include detectives from nine cities, the California Highway Patrol and the Sheriff’s Department. An FBI agent and an investigator from the district attorney’s office will also participate.

“We’ve had planning sessions and the officers have gone through a week of intense training,” said Loren DuChesne, chief of investigations for the district attorney’s office. “We’ll be operational by July 6.”

The investigators will conduct covert operations, including attempts to infiltrate organized auto theft rings. Operating out of an undisclosed location, the task force will target auto theft throughout the county.

“We hope to attack auto theft anywhere there is a significant problem, whether or not that city is participating in the task force, “ DuChesne said.

According to DuChesne, there were 20,333 reported auto thefts in the county in 1992.

In addition to reducing auto thefts, DuChesne said the task force hopes to establish a database on professional auto thieves, to be used by all area law enforcement agencies.

“We would also like to see a reduction in insurance rates,” he said. “If we can reduce auto theft by 25%, insurance companies should be able to lower premiums a few dollars.”

The task force’s $2-million budget will be financed by a fund created by the Department of Motor Vehicles. Each of the participating cities--Anaheim, Buena Park, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Orange, Placentia, Santa Ana and Westminster--will be reimbursed for the salary and benefits of the officer it sends to the task force.

DuChesne said two other cities, possibly La Habra and Irvine, are expected to join the task force as more money becomes available.