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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 Thefts

    DETROIT, 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