Taskforces

| C.T.I.P. | L.A. Impact | T.R.A.P. |

C.T.I.P.

The Cargo Theft Interdiction Program (CTIP) is a multi-jurisdictional task force that was created in 1990 to combat the ever-increasing cargo theft problem in Los Angeles County, as well as throughout all of California. The success of the CTIP team has proven that the surveillance and the investigative abilities of a multijurisdictional team surpass that of a single agency. During 2007, the CTIP team recovered over $15,742,242.00 dollars in stolen cargo and recovered stolen vehicles. The team has successfully arrested 53 suspects charged with the theft of stolen cargo and or vehicles.

Los Angeles County is a major cargo distribution center with it's two major ports handling over five and one-half million-cargo containers yearly. In addition, LAX annually handles more than one million tons of cargo, while at the same time the large rail system handles more than half a million cargo containers as well. Thousands of commercial businesses also ship and receive billions of dollars in merchandise on a routine basis. These factors, combined with a complex freeway network, makes Los Angeles County a prime target for the professional cargo thief.

The Vernon Police Department strongly believes in partnerships between private industry and law enforcement. When a partnership is created and the combined resources of a task force are directed toward one goal, it will be a successful endeavor. Working to meet this common goal, CTIP is able to conduct in-depth cargo theft investigations, electronic surveillance's, and successfully prosecute the criminals.

CTIP is currently staffed with personnel from:

The California Highway Patrol
The City of Vernon Police Department
The City of Los Angeles Port Police

The Vernon Police Department has a sergeant and a detective assigned to the team and are responsible for the investigation of cargo thefts, which occur in the City of Vernon. Through a team effort, CTIP has recovered many stolen loads of merchandise stolen out of the City of Vernon. During their investigations, numerous suspects have been arrested and over $1.5 million of dollars in merchandise has been recovered. The CTIP team can be contacted at (310) 513-7800.

Reporting Procedures: Should you or your company become a victim of a cargo related theft, the following reporting procedures should be followed:

1. Notify the Vernon Police Department to file a police report as soon as possible and provide the responding officer with the license plate number or vehicle identification number to the trailer or chassis. Be prepared to provide any bills of lading, manifests, or invoices to assist in identifying the stolen merchandise, which was inside the trailer or container at the time of the theft.

2. Notify the CTIP team using the above telephone numbers.

L.A. Impact

MISSION
To promote coordinated law enforcement efforts, and to address emerging criminal justice issues throughout the Los Angeles County area, encouraging maximum cooperation between all law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies, and ensuring the safety of both police personnel and the public, accomplished in an efficient manner within constitutional guidelines.

WHY L.A. IMPACT?
Several years ago, police chiefs in Los Angeles County were faced with a difficult challenge: how to fight major crime effectively while ensuring the safety of citizens and officers, given limited resources and the growing size, scope and sophistication of Los Angeles County's criminal networks.

Public opinion polls showed Southern Californians believed narcotics to be the single most serious crime problem the county faced. With the crack-down on drugs entering through Miami, drug smuggling activities had shifted and Los Angeles was considered by many law enforcement agencies to be the new major drug distribution hub for the entire nation. Growing criminal drug activity was aggravated by a proliferation of drug fighting agencies with overlapping jurisdictions and differing perspectives and priorities. Tight public budgets only made matters worse, especially when compared with the virtually unlimited resources of major drug organizations.

In order to address these and other related issues, the Los Angeles County Police Chief's Association and the heads of the California Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department agreed that the time had come to join forces and devise a regional solution. Thus, LA IMPACT- the Los Angeles Interagency Metropolitan Police Apprehension Crime Task Force- was born.

L.A. IMPACT
LA IMPACT is a county wide, multi-jurisdictional major crime task force. It became operational on July 1, 1991 with local, state, and federal support and with the consolidation of three drug enforcement agencies - WESTNET, SEANET, and San Gabriel Valley NET.

LA IMPACT has the size and political clout to address a myriad of law enforcement challenges. It is ideally suited to fighting major organized crime. In fact, since its inception, LA IMPACT has handled more than 3,000 separate investigations, which have resulted in over 3,600 arrests.

In each of our communities, we've seen the toll that drugs and crime have taken upon our citizens and our resources. Inter-agency operations are not only the most efficient, they are the most effective way to handle drug enforcement today. Through its efforts, LA IMPACT and its member agencies are helping to investigate and prosecute major crime in Los Angeles County and move law enforcement into the 21st Century.

L.A. IMPACT OBJECTIVES
Investigate and prosecute major crime in Los Angeles County. The focus is on maximizing successful prosecutions.

Provide support to other law enforcement agencies in Los Angeles County for major criminal investigations, LA IMPACT seeks to respond immediately to requests for assistance from participating police agencies.

Protect the safety of officers and the public. One way that LA IMPACT does this is by enforcing region-wide policies and procedures. An added advantage - regional policies - is that it helps to reduce liability and the possibility of corruption.

Make narcotic enforcement a major focus by 1) identifying and destroying drug distribution networks and 2) coordinating investigations with other law enforcement agencies.

LA IMPACT seeks to anticipate and address critical law enforcement needs as they emerge. Since the beginning, LA IMPACT's main investigative focus has been on the county's number on problem: drugs and drug-related crime. It has also assisted local law enforcement with homicide, kidnapping and burglary investigations and will continue to do so. In the future, LA IMPACT's primary focus will change, as the county's needs change.

For further information, contact LA IMPACT detectives at (310) 349-2784 and ask for the Vernon detective.

The Taskforce for Regional Autotheft Prevention (T.R.A.P.) Is a multi-jurisdictional task force, comprised of law enforcement officers from 22 different Los Angeles County law enforcement agencies. T.R.A.P. was enacted in 1993 by California Legislators for the sole purpose of combating California's high auto theft crime rate.

In 1992, California led all 50 states in auto theft crimes, since the inception of T.R.A.P. in 1993 auto theft has declined over 50%. To get a better understanding of California's auto theft problem, in 1992 California had more vehicles stolen, than any other two states combined.

T.R.A.P. is funded by the State of California, the funds for which have been generated through the Department of Motor Vehicles. $1 from every registered vehicle in Los Angeles County goes to fund T.R.A.P.

T.R.A.P. Investigators specifically handle vehicle crimes, such as; chop shops, VIN switch's, insurance fraud and the purchases of vehicles by means of identity theft.

If you want to obtain any information about T.R.A.P. or have information of any of the above listed crimes, Please contact Detective Encinas at 626-572-5662.

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