An Auto Theft Prevention Program

New York's Watch Your Car Program is a voluntary motor vehicle theft prevention program operated by law enforcement agencies across the State. Motor vehicle owners display a decal that alerts police that the car is not normally driven between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. The decal gives the police a legitimate purpose to stop the vehicle if they see it underway during those hours, and to investigate for possible auto theft before a stolen vehicle report has been filed by the owner.

The Watch Your Car Program can reduce motor vehicle theft and help reduce the cost of motor vehicle insurance premiums for New York State residents.

In 1997, the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services was awarded a grant by the US Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance, to implement the Watch Your Car Program statewide. The program is sponsored by the NYS Motor Vehicle Theft and Insurance Fraud Prevention Board. Currently, 85 Watch Your Car Programs operate across New York. These programs are similar to the Combat Auto Theft, or CAT Program, used in New York City and other jurisdictions across the country.

The Watch Your Car Program facilitates intrastate and interstate enforcement by encouraging police officers to stop and check any sticker-bearing vehicle from any jurisdiction to determine whether the vehicle is being operated with the owner's consent.

Why Watch Your Car?

A significant number of auto thefts are committed during the early morning hours when owners are asleep and unaware that their vehicles are being stolen. In many instances, a stolen car can be driven to a "chop shop" or across state lines before the owner awakens to discover the theft. The stolen vehicle may be used for the purpose of resale or disassembly to acquire parts, or it may be used in the commission of another crime.

How Watch Your Car Operates

New York's Watch Your Car Program includes two basic components. The "Decal Program" and the "VIN Etching Program". The universally recognized decals and window etchings of the Watch Your Car Program make it easy for police officers to identify cars from other cities that participate in the program.

Under the Decal Program, owners of motor vehicles voluntarily display highly reflective and tamper-resistant decals on their vehicles which alert police that the vehicles are not normally driven between the hours of 1 a.m. and 5 a.m.

Motorists my also choose to display a decal to signify that their vehicles are not normally driven across or near international land borders or shipping ports. Auto thieves want to avoid being noticed. Those who recognize the decal, and see it as a high visibility marker, will avoid stealing participating decal vehicles that draw law enforcement's attention.

Under the "VIN Etching Program", owners voluntarily have the windows on their vehicles acid-etched with the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). The etching is done by a local law enforcement agency. This method works as a deterrent against auto theft because the etched VIN cannot be altered or removed without damaging the window.

"Chop shops" and criminal auto-resale rings do not want to deal with etched windows. They either make the car unsaleable or limit the sections of the car that can be removed for reuse.

New York State law provides for insurance premium discounts ranging between two to five percent when owners VIN-etch their vehicles.

Promoting Watch Your Car in New York

Program success depends on making people aware of the New York Watch Your Car Program and making participation easy. Citizen participation in the New York Watch Your Car Program is voluntary; there is no fee for the decals or window etchings. Local law enforcement agencies that choose to participate should make presentations about the program to local government leaders, civic groups or during community events as well as advertising in local publications, radio, and television. Some New York State police departments employ innovative methods for encouraging citizen participation.

To establish a Watch Your Car Program in your jurisdiction, or for more information
Contact the Division of Criminal Justice Services, Office of Program Development and Funding by calling (518) 457-8404, via E-Mail, or view the additional information available here on the DCJS website.

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