PROTECT YOURSELF AGAINST AUTO THEFT

CRIME VICTIMS RIGHTS WEEK
STATE POLICE FOCUS ON CITIZENS’ RIGHT TO KNOW
HOW TO KEEP FROM BECOMING A VICTIM

TODAY: PROTECTING YOURSELF FROM AUTO THEFT

(Pikesville, MD) – In conjunction with National Crime Victims Rights Week, the Maryland State Police and their community partners are observing a victim’s right to know about the resources available to them in times of need. In today’s “Right to Know: How to Keep From Becoming A Victim,” the focus is on protecting yourself from becoming a victim of auto theft by taking precautionary measures and utilizing some of Maryland’s free programs.

In terms of auto theft, today’s preliminary year end statewide report for 2009 reports almost 20,000 vehicles stolen. Although this is a number that has been steadily decreasing over the past few years, law enforcement and government continue their efforts to further reduce the trend in vehicle theft.

The Maryland State Police, along with the Maryland Vehicle Theft Prevention Council and the Maryland/Washington, D.C. Anti-Car Theft Committee continuously work to educate Maryland’s communities about auto theft prevention. There are also free statewide programs available to Marylanders to help decrease the odds of ever becoming a victim of auto theft.

The Watch Your Car program is provided as a public service to owners of vehicles registered in Maryland. Currently, there are 40,000 vehicles registered in this free program. Vehicle owners sign an agreement stating their vehicle is not normally used between the hours of 1:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. Official Watch Your Car decals are then displayed on the front windshield and rear window, which indicates the vehicle is registered in the program. If a police officer observes the vehicle being driven anywhere in the United States during these hours, they may stop the vehicle and verify the vehicle owner or a person designated by the owner is operating it. To sign up for the program, visit, www.mdautotheft.org.

Another program made available to Marylanders free of charge is Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) etching. VIN etching is the permanent engraving of a vehicle’s federally registered vehicle identification number on its windshield and windows. Cars and trucks are frequently stolen for one of two reasons, resale value or individual parts. VIN etching is often seen as a deterrent to thieves because it’s difficult for thieves to profit from selling the windows and windshields. It also makes it hard for them to dispose of the vehicle once it has been stolen.

The Maryland/DC Anti Car Theft Committee (MD/DC ACT) is a non-profit organization dedicated to reducing auto theft through support for law enforcement. They are hosting their next free VIN Etching Event on Saturday, April 24th, in Columbia at the Amherst House. For more information, visit www.md-dcact.org.

There are many preventive techniques that motorists can incorporate into their daily routines. The Maryland State Police encourages the use of the following tips to avoid becoming a victim of auto theft:

1) Lock your car and take the key.

Maryland Auto Theft Units report approximately 30 percent of vehicles are stolen with a key. Leaving your vehicle running or just leaving the keys inside the vehicle, serve as an invitation for a thief to steal your property.

2) Etch your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) on your vehicle.

Getting a VIN number etched on your vehicle makes it difficult for a thief to market your stolen car parts. It is similar to writing your name on your property so that when police recover the vehicle, it can be properly identified.

3) Never leave valuables in plain view, even if your car is locked.

The majority of cars are stolen by ‘opportunists’. Valuables left in the car are an invitation to criminals. Crime prevention begins at home by keeping your vehicle safe.

4) Never leave personal identification documents, vehicle ownership title, or credit cards in your vehicle.

Many times, stolen vehicles are used to commit other crimes. Leaving identifying information about yourself in your vehicle can result in identity theft. Instead, always have your license plate and VIN numbers handy in the event you become a victim. This will assist police with the recovery of your vehicle.

5) Explore the options of anti-car theft options that come installed with the vehicle or after market devices that are visible from the outside of the vehicle.
Any protection is better than no protection. Any easy to use and inexpensive anti car theft device will deter many criminals. Explore the purchase of a vehicle theft tracking device, security system, or a steering wheel locking device, especially if you own a frequently stolen model vehicle.

“By impacting auto theft crimes, we know we are impacting other crimes in progress,” said Colonel Terrence B. Sheridan, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police. “Auto theft crimes lead to other criminal acts such as carjacking, handgun violations, and armed robberies. Marylanders can assist law enforcement in continuing to reverse the trend in auto thefts.”

If you have information about an auto theft or an illegal car-stripping operation in Maryland, call police immediately. For more auto theft prevention tips, to register in the Watch Your Car program, or to learn if your vehicle is on the list of those most frequently stolen, visit www.mdautotheft.org.