Mangano Obtains Grant Funds To Continue The Surveillance Apprehension Vehicle Enforcement Program--S.A.V.E.

Nassau Aims to Continue Reduction of Auto Insurance Fraud with S.A.V.E.

Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano announced today that the Nassau County Legislature has approved a $125,000 ordinance, which will provide the funds needed for the continuation of the Nassau County Police Department’s Surveillance Apprehension Vehicle Enforcement Program (S.A.V.E.).

Nassau County secured a grant from the New York Division of Criminal Justice Services to assign police officers and detectives to identify and arrest persons who commit the crime of vehicle theft and/or related insurance fraud in targeted high vehicle theft locations. The grant will also provide Nassau County Police Officers (NCPD) with specialized training and seminars to identify the specific characteristics common to vehicle insurance fraud, and crimes related to motor vehicle theft.

According to a statistical analysis that was done, false reports to law enforcement and costly pay-outs by insurance companies have caused regional insurance rates to rise. With the help of the grant provided by the New York Division of Criminal Justice Services, the officers of the Nassau County Police Department’s S.A.V.E. program will continue to investigate insurance fraud, fraudulently reported stolen vehicles and staged motor vehicle accidents.

“Motor vehicle insurance fraud is unacceptable,” said County Executive Mangano. “We will not allow individuals who cheat and defraud the system to waste taxpayer money and cause insurance companies to increase their rates. The officers of the Nassau County S.A.V.E. Program will continue to carefully investigate fraudulently reported stolen vehicles and staged motor vehicle accidents to insure the reduction of these occurrences in Nassau County.”

The S.A.V.E. officers will be able to track, and further investigate these fraudulent reports by thoroughly reviewing stolen vehicle reports and identifying the key signs of fraud. Once the S.A.V.E. officers identify potential fraudulent vehicles, they will commence an investigation along with the detectives of the Crimes Against Property Squad (CAP) and utilize all resources available. Once potential offenders are identified the CAP Squad will then initiate enforcement of suspected motor vehicle related crimes at scrap yards and vehicle dismantlers.

In an additional effort to continue the battle with Auto Insurance Fraud, County Executive Mangano has joined the members of New Yorkers Stand Against Insurance Fraud (NYSAIF) to urge the passage of the “Fraud Tax Bill,” which would increase the penalties for organized criminals who are driving up automobile insurance costs by taking advantage of New York’s no fault laws. According to the Insurance Information Institute, a group of industry experts, Nassau County residents pay 130% more for auto insurance on average than drivers across the nation largely due to the “no fault insurance” fraud crisis.