Louisiana Auto Theft, Fraud Authority Launches New Web Site

Louisiana Commissioner of Insurance Jim Donelon announced that the Louisiana Automobile Theft and Insurance Fraud Prevention Authority (LATIFPA) within the Department of Insurance has launched a new Web site with information and statistics about insurance fraud and vehicle theft. The site can be found through the Department’s Web site at www.ldi.state.la.us.

The kick-off of the new Web site coincides with the National Insurance Crime Bureau’s (NICB) Vehicle Theft Protection Month, which is July.

The new Web site details the programs sponsored by LATIFPA that are currently in effect and are designed to accomplish the group’s mission, which is to deter and reduce vehicle theft and insurance fraud by generating private funds to support law enforcement, public awareness, community involvement and education initiatives.

Those programs initiated by LATIFPA include a bait car program, known as Vehicle Investigation Prevention Enforcement Response (VIPER); a License Plate Recognition (LPR) program; and an Auto Theft Education program.

LATIFPA also recently launched a statewide public awareness campaign which included radio ads and billboards created to educate consumers on insurance fraud and vehicle theft.

Up-to-date statistics on the new site include: number of theft attempts from VIPER program bait cars, arrest and conviction rates; list of the top 10 vehicles stolen in Louisiana in 2008; motor vehicle theft statistics by state, by Louisiana metropolitan statistical area and by city; and tips on protecting yourself from becoming a victim of vehicle theft.

Source: Louisiana Department of Insurance