Victoria Television Group 3808 N. Navarro
Victoria, TX 77901
Phone: 361 575-2500
Fax: 361 575-2255
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Sticking It To Auto Thieves
Written by Shannon Dillon
Wednesday, 12 November 2008
A DAY OF SHOPPING AT THE MALL CAN TURN FOR THE WORSE IF YOU CAME OUT TO WHERE YOUR VEHICLE WAS LAST PARKED- ONLY TO DISCOVER ITS BEEN STOLEN.
IT'S JUST ONE OF MANY SCENARIOS VICTORIA AUTO THEFT PREVENTION OFFICIALS SAY CAN HAPPEN TO ANYONE AT ANYTIME. BUT OFFICIALS SAY THERE'S SOMETHING THAT CAN BE DONE TO PREVENT THEFT, AND IT STARTS WITH A STICKER. "A thief walks up to the car see's the HEAT sticker and they don't want to mess with that vehicle and they walk up and see the VIN etched on the windows they don't want to mess with it. Its too much trouble," says Victoria Police Officer Sherry Hornstein.
HORSTEIN SAYS AUTO THEFTS IN VICTORIA HAVE DROPPED FALLING FROM 190 IN 2003 TO 76 SINCE JANUARY 2008, AND ATTRIBUTES THE DECLINE TO MORE PEOPLE TAKING PART IN THE PROGRAMS.
IF YOUR CAR IS STOLEN THE H.E.A.T OR HELP END AUTO THEFT PROGRAM ALLOWS YOUR CAR TO BE PULLED OVER BY A OFFICER BETWEEN 1 A.M. AND 5 A.M.
OFFICIALS URGE HEAT REGISTRATION AND VIN ETCHING EVERY WINDOW, TO HELP PREVENT YOURSELF FROM BECOMING AN AUTO THEFT VICTIM. "Even if they steal your vehicle for a chop shop situation where they could take those windows out then, they've got these windows laying around their chop shop and its proof that they've got stolen merchandise," says Hornstein.
AND THAT'S WHAT OFFICIALS ARE HOPING TO DO USE DECALS, TO MAKE AN AUTO THIEF THINK AGAIN, BEFORE STEALING YOUR VEHICLE KNOWING THAT THE CHANCES OF BEING CAUGHT ARE MUCH GREATER.
