Crime & Safety
Police Brief: Funding for Auto Theft Unit Approved
St. Clair Shores is part of the multiagency task force to fight auto theft.
The Macomb County Board of Commissioners Public Safety Committee has approved funding a grant match of $344,209 to continue the multiagency Macomb Auto Theft Squad (MATS).
Officers assigned to MATS investigate numerous types of auto theft, fraud and vehicle recovery efforts.
The task force is comprised of personnel from the Macomb County Sheriff’s Department and Michigan State Police, along with the St. Clair Shores, Sterling Heights, Clinton Township and Warren police departments.
Find out what's happening in St. Clair Shoreswith free, real-time updates from Patch.
“Clearly, this program works and is a benefit to our residents,” said Public Safety Committee Chair Phil DiMaria in a release. “Any opportunity we have to help eradicate crime or fraudulent behavior, I think we should take, and I fully support ongoing funding of this program.”
The grant renewal covers Oct. 1, 2011, to Sept. 30, 2012. The funding match still needs to be approved by the Macomb County Board of Commissioners.
Find out what's happening in St. Clair Shoreswith free, real-time updates from Patch.
MATS has recovered 238 vehicles with $933,000 in recovery value this year, and 133 arrests have been made.
Officials report MATS recovered 174 vehicles with a recovery value of $1.9 million and made 255 arrests in 2010.
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