FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ATPA Holds Vinetching Training for Law Enforcement

ATPA HOLDS VINetching TRAINING FOR CUMBERLAND AND DAUPHIN COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT

Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania (July, 2014) – The Pennsylvania Auto Theft Prevention Authority (ATPA) will partner with the Upper Allen Township Police Department to train local police officers and investigators how to VINetch vehicles. The free training is open to any officer in Cumberland and Dauphin counties and will be held on July 9, 2014 from 10am – 12pm at the Upper Allen Township Police Training Facility, 100 Gettysburg Pike, Mechanicsburg.

VINetching or VINgraving is a proven theft deterrent. The vehicle’s identification number, or VIN, is chemically etched on to the vehicle’s windshield and windows. The process does not harm the car or its glass and takes less than 15 minutes. Would-be thieves resist stealing a vehicle that is etched because it is more easily identified and, if stolen, all of the costly glass must be replaced to remove traces of the VIN.

“We want any and every law enforcement agency in the state to have access to our VINetching equipment and the know-how to use it, so they can help us deter theft in every region of the state,” said Steven Wheeler, ATPA’s executive director. “Our goal is to support, not only our grantees, but also to provide education and cooperation to investigators and patrol officers across the commonwealth. We hope agencies will hold their own VINetching events and continue large-scale prevention and outreach.”

Created in 1994 by the state legislature, the Pennsylvania Auto Theft Prevention Authority provides grants statewide to a number of law enforcement agencies and prosecutors with the goal of reducing auto theft. The Authority has demonstrated significant and cost-effective success in achieving that objective, especially when compared to nearby states. During the past decade, the rate of auto theft in Pennsylvania has declined 52%. For more information about auto theft in Pennsylvania, county-by-county statistics, and theft prevention tips, visit www.watchyourcar.org.

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Contact: Steven Wheeler, Executive Director
Pa. Auto Theft Prevention Authority
717-591-7097
www.watchyourcar.org