The Authority's Role. Created by Act 171 of 1994 and funded through annual assessments paid by more than 400 auto insurance companies in Pennsylvania, the Authority's mission is twofold: to raise public awareness of vehicular theft, and to fund units that investigate and prosecute this crime. To date, the Authority has awarded some $25.6 million in grants to 13 investigative/law enforcement units and to two organizations undertaking public education activities in Pennsylvania.

State Police statistics for 1999 show that the number of reported vehicle thefts declined for the fifth straight year. Much of the reason for this success is the aggressive work of our grantees. Since the Authority was created, police and prosecutors working with its grant funds have reported recovering stolen vehicles and parts worth some $97 million, as of the end of June 2000.

History of the Pennsylvania Auto Theft Prevention Authority. Auto theft prevention authorities (ATPAs) are the result of cooperative efforts between legislators, the auto insurance industry, police, prosecutors, the courts, and businesses affected by vehicular crimes, such as car rental companies. Since the first ATPA was established in Michigan in the late 1980s, nearly a dozen states have created authorities to collect and administer funds from assessments on auto insurance companies, vehicle registration fees, or other sources. These funds are distributed as grants to law enforcement, prosecutors, and to programs aimed at reducing vehicle theft through public education, research, training and juvenile diversion.

In 1992, the Pennsylvania Anti-Car Theft Committee (PACT) was formed to develop positive steps to reduce auto theft. The PACT members included auto insurers and representatives of law enforcement and business communities, as well as members of the general public.

Working with the Insurance Federation of Pennsylvania and the insurance industry in general, PACT supported a three-bill package, enacted in 1994: the Insurance Fraud Act, legislation strengthening insurance fraud statutes in the PA Crimes Code, and Act 171 of 1994, which created the Authority. Since then, auto insurance companies in Pennsylvania (there are just over 400 of them in 2000) have contributed an average of $4.5 million each year through annual special assessments to maintain a grant fund in support of the anti-auto-theft effort.

There are several predominant kinds of auto theft:

• For-profit, commercial operations (including theft rings and chop shop operations) - particularly active in densely populated areas, such as the southeastern region of the state. For this reason, a large commitment of grant funds has been made to Philadelphia and surrounding counties, as well as Pittsburgh. With passage in 1999 of new, tougher chop shop legislation, our grantees have begun to target chop shop operations with increased intensity.
• Owner give-up - often involves leased vehicles with very high mileage whose turn-in costs are high, or owned vehicles whose owners no longer wish to make monthly payments. The lessee/owner arranges to have the car stolen or burned to collect the insurance, which adds the crime of insurance fraud to the illegal activity.
• Juvenile theft - for status or "thrills." Juvenile thieves normally do not go to jail. This is an increasing problem. Too many vehicle owners leave their cars unlocked and the keys inside.
• Cars for crack - addicts loan their vehicles to drug dealers in exchange for drugs. The dealers use the cars to transport illegal drugs, or to commit other crimes, without fear of losing their own vehicles if caught. If lost, the "loaned" cars are reported stolen.