The State Patrol Vehicle Crimes Unit investigates crimes relating to motor vehicles. These include:  

• Stolen vehicles
• Fraud by car dealers
• Violations related to out-of-state vehicle registrations

They also work to educate the public to prevent vehicle-related crimes and fraud.

Most cases handled by the Vehicle Crimes Unit start as complaints from residents. Additionally, other law enforcement agencies often refer cases to this unit due to the troopers' specialized knowledge and expertise in motor vehicle crimes.

The unit is made of six sergeants:  

• Rochester (one)  
• Twin Cities (three)  
• St. Cloud (one)  
• Detroit Lakes (one)  

They prioritize cases by the dollar value of the loss involved and the seriousness of the alleged crimes.

History

The State Patrol Vehicle Crime Unit originated in 1998 in response to vehicular fraud and tax evasion of vehicle titles and registration. The Minnesota Legislature allocated resources for troopers, giving them the responsibility to recover lost revenue from residents who registered their vehicles in another state, and to investigate motor vehicle dealers that were committing fraud.