Reducing car thefts

The Milwaukee Police Department, the Auto Dealers Association of Mega Milwaukee, the American Automobile Association, and the Anti-Vehicle Crime Association of Wisconsin will hold additional theft deterrent device installation sessions this month to address motor vehicle theft in the community. On the next two Saturdays, service technicians from eight Milwaukee-area automobile dealers will install these devices on specific cars at no cost to the owner. This installation process will take approximately 30 minutes. The media is encouraged to cover the event at any of the locations.

Installations will occur on Saturday, August 8 and Saturday, August 15 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at:

 Copper Man Recycling, 3818 West Mitchell Street

 Department of Public Works Field Headquarters, 3850 North 35th Street

At this time, participation in the program is limited to those makes and models of vehicles that data suggests are most likely to be stolen. They include '96-'05 Dodge Caravans, '96-'01 Chrysler Town and Country, '91-'96 Honda Accords, '93-'00 Honda Civics, and '96-'04 Dodge Intrepids. More information can be found on the ADAMM website.

Milwaukee Police Officers will be available at these sessions to provide crime prevention information and sign up owners for MPD's Catch Auto Thieves (CAT) Program. Under the conditions of the CAT Program, a decal is affixed to the vehicle's rear window. This allows officers to stop the vehicle if it is being operated between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m.; hours when many owners are unlikely to operate their vehicle, but when stolen cars are driven on the street.