A r i zo n a A u t o m o b i l e Theft Authority www.azwatchyourcar.com November 2006 2007 IAATI Conference in Phoenix, Arizona The International Association of Auto Theft Investigators (IAATI), AZ. Auto Theft Authority, AZ. Department of Public Safety, and the Arizona Auto Theft Investigators Association (AATIA) are pleased to announce that Phoenix has been selected to host the 2007 IAATI 55th Annual Training Seminar, which will be held August 5-10, 2007 at the Wigwam Resort & Spa in the West Valley. Approximately 300 attendees from the United States, Canada, and other parts of the World will be attending the conference. Visit the IAATI website at www.iaati.org (go to Seminar page, 2007 Seminar info) for more information or to register for the conference. Arizona Vehicle Theft Task Force Recognized by IACP The Arizona Vehicle Theft Task Force was awarded the 2006 Vehicle Theft Award of Merit by the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP). The Task Force was recognized as the number one multi-agency vehicle theft task force in the country based upon the judging criteria. The Task Force was formally recognized at the 2006 IACP Annual Conference in Boston, MA, October 14-18, 2006. Congratulations to the Task Force for this prestigious recognition! Arizona Vehicle Theft Task Force receives 2006 IACP Award of Merit 2007/2008 Grant Programs: 2005 Auto Theft Statistics: Mark Your Calendars: AATA will host a Grant Workshop in January 2007, applications will be due in March. Visit our website at www.azwatchyourcar.com, go to the Grants page for updated information. For the third straight year, Arizona has experienced a decrease in its auto theft rate. The FBI’s 2005 Uniform Crime Report indicates there were 54,905 stolen vehicles in 2005, with our theft rate (stolen vehicles for every 100,000 inhabitants) at 963.5, which is a 4.1% decrease in the theft rate from 2004. (See pg. 2 for more info) The 2nd Annual Statewide Vehicle Theft Prevention Day will be held on Saturday, March 3, 2007! If your agency wishes to participate by hosting an event in your community, please contact the AATA for additional information. (Full story on back page). Page 2 A r i zo n a A u t o m o b i l e T h e f t A u t h o r i t y AATA’s Youth Prevention Programs According to the Arizona Department of Public Safety’s 2005 Crime in Arizona Report, juveniles comprise approximately 15% of the arrests for stolen vehicles in Arizona each year. With this statistic in mind, the AATA has created two special programs geared toward educating students about the consequences of auto theft as well as providing vehicle theft prevention information to our youth throughout Arizona. “A Ride For Life: The Consequences of Auto Theft” is a comprehensive education curriculum that can be easily incorporated into the classroom. This program educates middle school students about the dangers of auto theft by stressing the consequences of committing this crime or associating with peers who do. The curriculum includes a DVD, a decision-making lesson plan for instructors to teach students about the often tragic results of auto theft involvement, and an informative brochure. “Park Smart – New Driver” is another comprehensive curriculum program geared toward providing educational awareness to first-time drivers in high school about practicing theft prevention techniques. The “Park Smart - New Driver” curriculum includes a DVD, a les- son plan for instructors to provide vehicle theft prevention information to students, and an informative brochure. The program can be easily incorporated into driver education classrooms or a special program taught by School Resource Officers. In addition to the immediate consequences of juveniles stealing vehicles, auto theft is often a gateway to more serious crimes and in many instances it is the first step into a career of violence. Both of these programs are provided at no charge to Arizona law enforcement agencies, school districts, or other community partners working with school- aged youth. To view a sample video of each program, visit the AATA’s website at www.azwatchyourcar.com, go to the Youth Prevention Program page. To request a packet, simply fill out a “Commitment to Present Materials” form available on the Youth Prevention page then fill it out and e-mail or fax back to Ann Armstrong. For additional information regarding this project, please contact Ann Armstrong at 602 364-2892 or e-mail at ann.armstrong@aata.az.gov New Attorney General’s Website for Stolen Vehicle Search This summer, the Arizona Attorney General’s Office launched a new website for residents to access to determine if a suspicious looking or abandoned vehicle is stolen. The website www.theftaz.azag.gov contains a database of reported stolen vehicles. Users can enter a license plate or VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) and if the vehicle has been reported as stolen, a contact phone number for the law enforcement agency that reported it will appear. The Arizona Attorney General's Office and the reporting agencies strongly recommend that the public take no individual action with regard to any vehicle listed in this site. Contact your local law enforcement or reporting agency. Users can also access the website from the AATA’s website at www.azwatchyourcar.com. Arizona Experiences Decrease in Auto Thefts for 2005 According to statistics recently released from the FBI’s 2005 Uniform Crime Report (UCR), Arizona experienced a decrease in its vehicle theft rate in 2005. Arizona had 54,905 stolen vehicles in 2005, compared to 55,306 in 2004. Arizona’s 2005 theft rate (stolen vehicles for every 100,000 inhabitants) was 963.5, which is a 4.1% decrease in the theft rate from 2004. This reduction represents the third straight year Arizona has realized a decrease in its auto theft rate. There were more than 1.2 million motor vehicle thefts in the United States in 2005. The Western region of the country continued to experience an increase in auto theft, however, Arizona and Wyoming were the only two (of eight) states that recorded a reduction. The AATA credits this reduction to the hard work of our many law enforcement, criminal justice and insurance partners all working diligently to reduce auto theft in our state. November 2006 Page 3 Watch Your Car and VIN Etching Programs The AATA’s free Watch Your Car and VIN Etching Programs continue to be one of the most popular tools utilized by law enforcement officers to identify stolen vehicles and to apprehend car thieves. The Watch Your Car Program was developed by the AATA in March 1998, in a collaborative partnership with law enforcement agencies to deter vehicle theft. From January 2006 to August 2006, the AATA received nearly 16,000 Watch Your Car enrollments, with an average of about 2,000 new enrollments per month. Active enrollments as of November 1, 2006: 89,595. The Watch Your Car Program is a free, voluntary program designed to deter vehicle theft, assist in the recovery of stolen vehicles, and apprehend auto thieves. By enrolling and signing the WYC Program application form, vehicle owners will receive by mail the WYC Program decals to be affixed on their vehicle’s windows. These decals authorize police officers to stop the vehicle between the program hours of 1:00 AM and 5:00 AM when most vehicle thefts occur, or within one mile of the international border. Watch Your Car enrollment forms are obtained from your local Police Department, Sheriff’s Office, Motor Vehicle Division, or by contacting the AATA directly at (602) 364-2887 or toll free at 1-888-668-4433. In addition you can apply on line at www.azwatchyourcar.com. During the fall and winter of 2006, the AATA will continue its expansion of the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) Etching Program. Window etching permanently marks your VIN (17 digits in most cases) into every window glass of your vehicle. The numbers are small with BIG effect. Etched VIN's make vehicle theft and parts fencing tougher and add to your vehicle an effective visual deterrent against auto theft. The AATA will continue hosting and cohosting free VIN etching events throughout the state in conjunction with our criminal justice partners. If you want to participate in any of our VIN Etching and WYC Program events please visit our website at www.azwatchyourcar.com, go to the Events page. If you want to develop a VIN Etching and/or Watch Your Car Program event in your neighborhood or for your organization’s employees, please feel free to contact the AATA’s Public Information Officer, John Almasan at (602) 364-2887. For Law Enforcement Agencies: Over the last several years, many law enforcement agencies have placed rear Watch Your Car decals on the back windows of their fleet of patrol vehicles. This serves as a reminder to patrol officers as well as another marketing tool to educate the public about this program. Please contact John Almasan at 602 364-2887 if your agency would like to receive rear decals for patrol vehicles or if your agency is already participating and needs additional decals. Arizona Automobile Theft Authority Legislative Update In 2007, the AATA is scheduled for a Sunset Review by the Arizona Legislature. This process is basically a system for the Legislature to evaluate the need to continue the existence of state agencies. On completion of the sunset review, the committee of reference (in our case the Transportation Committee of Reference) recommends to continue, revise, consolidate or terminate the agency. The AATA had its first Sunset Review in 2002 and we were given a 5year review (2007). The AATA is making plans for this process, which is already under way. There will likely be a Legislative hearing before the end of this year. Our law enforcement, community and business partners can help support the AATA by submitting letters of support about the agency and the programs and services we offer to help enforce, prevent and prosecute auto theft in Arizona. Please contact Enrique Cantu, AATA Executive Director (602 364-2888) or Ann Armstrong, AATA Public Affairs Officer (602 364-2892) if you're able to submit a letter of support and/or attend our hearing at the Legislature once a date has been scheduled. 2nd Annual Statewide Vehicle Theft Prevention Day Planned for March 3, 2007 The AATA in partnership with statewide law enforcement agencies will host its annual Vehicle Theft Prevention Day on Saturday, March 3, 2007. Participating agencies throughout the state will host auto theft prevention and/or free Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) etching events this day in an effort to increase awareness about auto theft while providing residents with the necessary tools to help protect their vehicles. Last year’s event was a huge success 1400 W. WASHINGTON SUITE 270 Janet Napolitano Governor PHOENIX, ARIZONA 85007 Phone: 602-364-2886 Fax: 602-364-2897 E-mail: aata@aata.az.gov www.azwatchyourcar.com Toll Free: 1-888-668-4433 An Equal Employment Opportunity Agency AATA Board Chairman Sheriff Ralph E. Ogden Yuma County Sheriff Vice Chairman Dean C. Butler Farmers Insurance Sheriff Joe Arpaio Maricopa County Sheriff Sergeant Joe Brosius Public Member Brian Garrett State Farm Insurance Company with over 30 agencies across the state participating and we’re anticipating even greater participation this year. For more information about this project, contact Ann Armstrong at 602 3642892 or John Almasan at 602 364-2887. As the date approaches, all events will be posted on the AATA’s website at www.azwatchyourcar.com under the Events page. Chief Sherry Kiyler Chandler Police Department Barbara LaWall Pima County Attorney Robert Carter Olson Pinal County Attorney Ellen Poole Public Member Chief Daniel G. Sharp Oro Valley Police Department Director Stacey K. Stanton Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division Director Roger Vanderpool AZ. Dept. of Public Safety AATA Staff Enrique Cantu Executive Director Paul Boelhauf Chief Financial Officer Ann Armstrong Public Affairs Officer John Rares Almasan Public Information Officer Arthur Myer Fiscal Services Specialist Nichole Thompson Administrative Assistant