Police Magazine Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Theft prevention program strives to keep tabs on hot wheels

October 1, 2000
1 min to read


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

More Vehicle Ops

Infographic from RoadFlex showing the transition from a paper fuel receipt to a digital fuel transaction record, highlighting automated tax-exemption tracking, vehicle matching, department coding, audit trail completion, and audit-ready compliance for public fleet fuel purchases.
Vehicle OpsJune 18, 2026

RoadFlex Brings Fuel Tax Compliance & Audit-Ready Reporting to Government Fleets

RoadFlex now offers its capabilities to help public-sector fleets streamline fuel tax exemptions, reclamation, reconciliation, and audit-ready reporting.

Read More →
Screenshot of the Rynse fleet vehicle wash management platform, showing recent wash transactions, service costs, vehicle records, and wash history dashboards used to track, approve, and manage fleet cleaning services.
Vehicle OpsJune 11, 2026

Rynse Awarded Cooperative Purchasing Contract, Expanding Nationwide Fleet Wash Access for Law Enforcement

Rynse has secured a 2026-2027 NCSA contract, giving law enforcement agencies nationwide fast-track access to its fleet wash network and management platform, which streamlines procurement, reduces administrative burdens, and helps fleets stay road-ready with greater oversight.

Read More →
Low-angle front-corner image of a police car with push bumper.
Vehicle OpsMay 7, 2026

Tenhold Introduces Suppressor Gun Rack System

Tenhold, formerly Jotto Desk, provides next-generation vehicle systems for law enforcement and public safety and recently debuted its Suppressor Lock Head for its Weapon Mounting system.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Black Ram police pickup truck against a white background.
Vehicle OpsApril 16, 2026

Ram Debuts Pursuit-Capable 2500 Emergency Response Vehicle

The 2027 Ram 2500 Emergency Response Vehicle is the first and only ¾-ton truck to complete the Michigan State Police vehicle trials, and Ram said it delivered outstanding performance in testing scenarios designed to replicate extreme real-world duty.

Read More →
police car geotab thumbnail for services whitepaper
SponsoredApril 1, 2026

How Data-Driven Fleet Management Is Changing Public Safety Operations

Police agencies are leveraging fleet data to reduce collisions, improve officer safety, control maintenance costs, and strengthen public accountability. This ebook explores how modern telematics and fleet management technology are helping departments operate more efficiently while maximizing taxpayer resources.

Read More →
Police Jeep with light activated inside a garage with other vehicles being worked on in the background.
Vehicle OpsFebruary 4, 2026

Emergency Vehicle Upfitter LEHR Opens New Facility in New Jersey

LEHR’s new centralized upfitting facility in New Jersey consolidates operations to deliver faster turnaround times and enhanced fleet capacity for law enforcement agencies across the Northeast.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Background image of fuel pumps with inset logo for RoadFlex and a fuel card.
Vehicle OpsJanuary 28, 2026

North Carolina Sheriff’s Office Improves Fueling Reliability & Operational Control

The Madison County Sheriff’s Office overcame fuel management and accounting challenges by turning to RoadFlex to improve fueling reliability, visibility, and administrative control.

Read More →
Three mean cut a ribbon.
Vehicle OpsOctober 17, 2025

Emergency Vehicle Upfitter LEHR Expands National Footprint with New 40,000-Square-Foot Facility in Houston

LEHR has opened a 40,000-square-foot Defender Supply upfitting facility in Houston, Texas. It is expected to upfit thousands of public safety vehicles each year.

Read More →
Police Law Enforcement Solutions logo with emergency vehicle light bar
Patrolby Wayne ParhamOctober 3, 2025

How to Pick Your High-Risk Stop Location for Tactical Advantage

Hear veteran trainer Mike Willis, of the United States Deputy Sheriff’s Association, explain several considerations that can help you wisely pick your best spot to initiate high-risk or felony traffic stops.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Coffee Break With Police Experts thumnail for topic of Using Your Patrol Vehicle for Cover.
Patrolby Wayne ParhamOctober 3, 2025

Coffee Break with Police Experts: Using Your Patrol Vehicle for Cover

In this video, hear from Dustin Mowery, a product specialist at Team Wendy, as he discusses how to best use a patrol vehicle for cover.

Read More →