One of the statutory responsibilities of the DPS Investigation Division under Nevada Revised Statute 480.470 includes auto theft investigations and the recovery of stolen vehicles. While auto theft occurs in every part of the state, the Las Vegas area feels the biggest impact of auto theft. In the Las Vegas area, where auto thefts have become a profitable business, the DPS Investigation Division serves as a committed member of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department’s VIPER Auto Theft Task Force. The auto theft investigations which VIPER conducts not only involve the identification and recovery of stolen vehicles, but also involve the disruption of criminal organizations making use of Las Vegas’ location along three major roadways and its population and tourism demographics to facilitate their criminal operations.