Detroit Regional Chamber and Wayne County Law Enforcement Partner to Make a Dent in Auto Thefts
25 February 1998
Detroit Regional Chamber and Wayne County Law Enforcement Partner to Make a Dent in Auto TheftsDETROIT, Feb. 25 -- The Alliance for a Safer, Greater Detroit, an affiliate of the Detroit Regional Chamber, and law enforcement agencies throughout Wayne County, have launched Stop Thief! -- a pilot program designed to prevent auto theft. Stop Thief! is a voluntary program, encouraging citizens to register their vehicle with local law enforcement agencies. Once registered, auto owners receive a window decal and agree to allow law enforcement officers to stop and/or detain their vehicle if seen on the road between 1-5 a.m. to determine if the vehicle is stolen. The program is recommended for individuals who do not normally operate their cars between those hours. Participating in the announcement were Sheriff Robert Ficano, Wayne County Sheriff's Department; John O'Hair, Wayne County Prosecuting Attorney and chairman for The Alliance for a Safer, Greater Detroit; Chief Lawrence Semple, Harper Woods Police Department; Chief Morris Cotton, Highland Park Police Department; Deputy Chief Ken Dobson, Allen Park Police Department; Lt. Robert Brassell, Dearborn Police Department, and Sgt. David Hooper, Westland Police Department. "Vehicle theft is not an anonymous, faceless crime," said Sheriff Ficano. "It is a cruel crime, often leaving the low-income families and the elderly as victims." According to O'Hair, the pilot program is simple and cost effective. "You can employ all the high-tech and low-tech devices you want, but to make a real dent in auto theft, you need the cooperation witnessed with this partnership." The program is based on a successful program that began in New York in 1986. Once successful, the program will be expanded to include other municipalities in the region. To participate, citizens should contact their local police department. The Alliance for a Safer, Greater Detroit is an organization of business, law enforcement and community organizations working to reduce crime and the fear of crime in Metro Detroit. The Detroit Regional Chamber is an organization of more than 11,000 members committed to empowering the economy for Southeast Michigan. SOURCE Detroit Regional Chamber