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March 29, 2017

Ocala StarBanner 

 

Missing a truck tailgate? You're not alone

   Florida is No. 3 nationwide in reported thefts of pickup truck tailgates.

By Austin L. Miller 

 

When Kunal Gaekwad started to back his 2016 Ford F-250 King Ranch pickup truck out of his parking spot outside a gym on south Pine Avenue on a recent afternoon, he noticed the backup camera screen was black. Then he noticed why — the tailgate had been stolen.

Gaekwad was the victim of a national trend of thefts of tailgates from a variety of models of pickups.

Nationally, the top states reporting the thefts are Texas and California. Florida is third.

Arizona, which ranks fourth, recently launched a campaign called "Watch Your Tail," sponsored by the Arizona Automobile Theft Authority. One purpose is to encourage residents to lock and secure tailgates with various devices.

 

According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, the number of truck tailgate thefts nationwide jumped from 430 claims in 2010 to 1,895 in 2014....

 

http://www.ocala.com/news/20170329/missing-truck-tailgate-youre-not-alone

February 8, 2017

Arizona Daily Sun

 

Arizona Automobile Theft Authority launches new statewide tailgate theft prevention campaign

PHOENIX — This month, the Arizona Automobile Theft Authority (AATA) launches a new tailgate theft prevention campaign, “Watch Your Tail” in response to increasing tailgate thefts across the state. Arizona currently ranks fourth (4th) in the U.S. for tailgate thefts behind Texas, California and Florida; Phoenix also ranks 4th for Top 10 Loss Cities for tailgate thefts and reported a 15% increase in thefts last year.

 

http://azdailysun.com/news/local/arizona-automobile-theft-authority-launches-new-statewide-tailgate-theft-prevention/article_c145d710-7534-5a5b-b721-c6abedc88c0b.html

December 12, 2016

Arizona Department of Public Safety -NEWS RELEASE


Arizona Vehicle Theft Task Force Locates Vehicles Stolen from Car Dealership

State detectives arrest prime suspect


Tucson, Arizona — On December 6, 2016, the Tucson Police Department requested the assistance of the Tucson Vehicle Theft Task Force (VTTF) which is administered by the Arizona Department of Public Safety. The case involved a local car dealership that had been burglarized in which three vehicles and 30 sets of keys were stolen from the business.
 

For the rest of the release please click on the link below. 

 

December 9, 2016

Nogales International

 

Operation Chain Link’ nets cash, vehicles

 

A three-day multi-agency policing effort at the border in Nogales netted more than $20,000 in cash and recovered three stolen vehicles, authorities said.

On Dec. 1, the first day of “Operation Chain Link,” officers deployed at a Nogales port of entry selected a suspicious vehicle for a secondary inspection before the driver could cross into Mexico, the Department of Homeland Security said in a news release. After the officials found more than $10,000 in undeclared funds, they arrested the driver and seized the vehicle.

 

The following day, officers recovered one stolen vehicle and arrested the driver, DHS said. The driver and vehicle were then turned over to the Arizona Vehicle Theft Task Force.

 

http://www.nogalesinternational.com/news/operation-chain-link-nets-cash-vehicles/article_94f0dbaa-bd9e-11e6-8960-975046278fcb.html

November 29, 2016

Bensonnews-sun.com

 

While shoppers scurry in search of that special gift, so too are thieves who are looking to put the grinch on your holidays.

 

Annually, holiday shoppers can provide prime targets for would-be car thieves who can access your locked vehicle and be down the road in a matter of seconds.

 

With that in mind, the Arizona Auto Theft Authority & Auto Theft Task Force are teaming up with a myriad of agencies to include Benson Police Dept., Arizona Department of Public Safety and the National Insurance Crime Bureau on Friday, Dec. 9, in the Walmart parking lot from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at 201 S. Prickly Pear.

 

 

http://www.bensonnews-sun.com/news/article_f4462162-b67f-11e6-83fc-579831992eeb.html

October 18, 2016

ParkerPineer.net

The La Paz County Attorney’s Office is sponsoring a program where motor vehicle owners can get their Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN) etched into their windshields for free. The goal of the program is to cut down an auto theft by making cars less attractive to thieves.

 

Vehicle owners can get their VINs etched from 8 a.m. to 12 noon Oct. 22 at the Quartzsite Community Center, 295 E. Chandler Street. The following weekend, etching will be done from 8 a.m. to 12 noon Oct. 29 at the CRIT Tribal Fairgrounds at Manataba Park, Mohave Road and Second Avenue.

 

http://www.parkerpioneer.net/news/article_0cf8859c-956f-11e6-a2d4-477434e6749d.html

September 12, 2016

PRESCOTT VALLEY TRIBUNE

PRESCOTT VALLEY – On Saturday, September 17, 2016, from 9:00 a.m. to Noon, the Prescott Valley Police Department will provide a free Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) etching opportunity at the Prescott Valley Event Center, 3201 N. Main Street, Prescott Valley. VIN etching is the process of permanently etching the vehicle’s digit VIN on each piece of window glass on the vehicle.

http://www.pvtrib.com/news/2016/sep/12/prescott-valley-police-offer-free-vin-etching/

June 30, 2016

"Motor vehicle thefts may be declining in neighboring Tempe, but the number of automobiles stolen in Ahwatukee has increased slightly in the last two years."

http://www.ahwatukee.com/crimeandsafety/article_f73ac616-3e4d-11e6-8c2a-47af7b7e0096.html

March 29, 2016

AZCentral

Arizona was 11th in the country for vehicle thefts in 2014 and eighth for total stolen vehicles, according to the Arizona Auto Theft Association.

But the number of stolen vehicles in Arizona has decreased dramatically compared with 10 years ago, when Arizona vehicle thefts peaked.

 

http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2016/03/29/auto-thefts-arizona-decline-but-state-still-ranks-no-11-us-vehicle-thefts/82355564/

March 24, 2016

KTAR NEWS

Arizona ranked No. 8 in the nation for overall vehicle thefts, according to reports from the Arizona Automobile Theft Authority

http://ktar.com/story/982316/arizona-ranked-among-worst-in-nation-for-auto-theft-contributes-to-border-crime/