Cactus Village Community

Auto Theft in Arizona

Jul 10, 2003

climbed 17 percent last year, making us the No. 1 state in the nation for vehicle thefts per capita. According to the Arizona Auto Theft Authority, more than 50,000 Arizona vehicles were stolen in 2002.

As theft rates have soared in the Valley, recovery rates have declined. Approximately 61 percent of stolen vehicles were recovered in 2002, compared to 79 percent a decade earlier.

Throughout the past year and continuing on this year, car owners can learn how to beat these statistics and protect their cars at special Auto Theft Prevention Days.

At these events free VIN etching, and enrollment in the ?“Watch Your Car?” program is offered. Protecting our neighborhoods is paramount to the citizens of Phoenix, and these events provide tools for residents to make our communities even safer and more livable.

Volunteers will use special kits to etch small Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) onto automobile windows. Usually VIN etching costs approximately $20 per car, but this service is provided for free at the events. It takes approximately 10 minutes to etch each car.

Auto thieves can take apart your whole car in a matter of minutes. If a professional car thief sees small VIN numbers etched on your car windows, he or she knows they will have trouble selling the parts and will look for a different car.

The ?“Watch Your Car?” decal program is a voluntary program
developed by the Arizona Automobile Theft Authority (AATA). Participants register their car with the AATA and receive free decalsto display in their vehicle?’s front and rear windows.

The decal lets law enforcement officials know the vehicle is not usually in use between the hours of 1 and 5 am., when the majority of thefts occur.

If a police officer sees the vehicle in operation between these hours, he has the authority to pull it over, determine if it has been stolen and notify the owner that their vehicle is being illegally operated.

It also gives a police officer the authority to pull it over, if it is within one mile of the U.S. borders, at any hour.

For more information on these events you can call my office at 602-262-7441 or e-mail me at peggy.bilsten@phoenix.gov. . .☺