Task force to fight auto theft, insurance fraud

With a stroke of his pen Monday, Gov. Jim Gibbons created a statewide task force to combat auto theft and insurance fraud.

"It's a statewide problem. It's not just in Clark County. It's in every county and community in the state," the governor said after a news conference with Clark County Sheriff Doug Gillespie.

The task force, created by an executive order, will include representatives of the insurance industry and police agencies. Details of the task force won't be finalized until Oct. 1.

Las Vegas police expect to play a key role. Thanks to more resources and new techniques such as bait cars, they reduced the county's per-capita auto theft rate 20 percent last year.

Officials hope such success will drop Las Vegas from the top of the list of worst metro areas for auto thefts. The new rankings will come out in a few months.

The task force also will attack insurance fraud, which costs a typical Nevada family $300 a year in insurance premiums.

Vehicle arsons climbed more than 50 percent from 2001 to 2006, and many of those were part of insurance scams, officials said.

Contact reporter Brian Haynes at bhaynes@reviewjournal.com or (702) 383-0281.