Senator: Homeland Security Should Fight Cross-Border Car Thefts

Democratic New Mexico Sen. Jeff Bingaman is asking the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to crack down on criminals who smuggle stolen cars from the United States to Mexico.

Bingaman says seven of the 10 metropolitan statistical areas with the worst motor vehicle losses are on or along the U.S.-Mexico border.

He says the thefts raise car insurance premiums for everyone.

Bingaman has asked DHS to deploy license plate readers at outbound inspection stations at all the international ports of entry in New Mexico and El Paso, Texas.

He also wants the department to increase its use of cameras and computer systems, boost intelligence sharing with local and state law enforcement and work with Mexico to recover more stolen vehicles.