Theft prevention program strives to keep tabs on hot wheels
A program that developed as an outgrowth of the National Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention Act, the Watch Your Car Program is designed to significantly reduce the number of auto thefts each year. The program is a cooperative enterprise among the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), and state and local governments, to have vehicle owners voluntarily register their vehicles with state police and then subsequently display special, reflective, tamper-proof decals on their vehicles. The decals allow police to pull over a vehicle displaying the decals if that vehicle is being driven under specific conditions.
States or local government entities can apply to the program and set up a point of contact for administration. In Arizona, where the program has been in effect for some time, Anita Carr, administrative assistant at the Arizona Automobile Theft Authority in Phoenix, told Police, Our auto theft statistics dropped last year. We think this is attributed to the fact that we have the [auto theft] task force and the Watch Your Car Program. For more information, contact the U.S. DOJ Response Center at (800) 421-6770.
Greg Basich, editorial assistant, Police
