New York will provide nearly $4 million in grant funding to 29 police departments, district attorneys' offices, and other agencies to combat auto theft and insurance fraud in the state.

"Motor vehicle insurance fraud is a crime that costs New York's consumers and insurers millions of dollars every year," said Gov. Andrew Cuomo in a press release. "Under the state's motor vehicle theft and insurance fraud prevention program, we are [equipping] local law enforcement agencies with additional resources to combat this problem, enhancing efforts to track down those who break the law and increasing protection for our consumers." 

The grant is available through the state's Motor Vehicle Theft and Insurance Fraud Prevention program, which is overseen by a 12-member board that develops the state's strategy for combating auto theft and insurance fraud, in addition to reviewing grant applications and issuing the grant awards. The state Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) serves as the staff for the board and administers the grant program, which targets the state's urban centers and is funded through a $10 fee assessed on insurance policies issued for vehicles registered in the state.