Since 1977, motor vehicle thefts have been increasing in New Jersey at an alarming rate, and the recovery rate has been steadily declining. Intelligence gathered to date indicates a significant percentage of auto thefts is by organized theft groups involved in dismantling operations that profit from the lucrative auto parts market. In an effort to combat this problem, the Criminal Investigation Section of the State police has formed an auto theft unit, comprised of 12 detectives trained and experienced in the investigation of commercial auto theft rings. The primary responsibility of the unit is to conduct proactive investigations of organized rings. H.R. 4178 will aid auto theft investigation by providing identification numbers for major auto component parts, thus making it easier to convict 'chop shop' operators; specifying increased penalties to discourage fencing operations and penalties for the mailing of certain items used to encourage or enhance auto theft; and an improved identification system for vehicles that may grow from the bill's requirement that the Attorney General develop a report on such matters within 18 months of the bill's enactment. An additional program needed is a computer analysis system that will identify monthly and annually geographic locations of thefts and recoveries. Further, the bill should include a mandate for federally funded programs that will help increase law enforcement capacity to deal with auto thefts.