Politics & Government
Clarkstown Police Offer Free Program To Cut Car Theft Risk
ID numbers etched on windows seen as a theft deterrent.
Worried about the possibility of your car being stolen? Clarkstown police say they can offer some help that might reduce your fears.
The Clarkstown Police Crime Prevention Unit is sponsoring a free VIN Etching Program on Saturday at Clarkstown Police Headquarters, 20 Maple Ave., New City from 9 a.m. to noon. The program is part of a national effort in which vehicle owners have local police etch their vehicle identification number — VIN — into the windows of their vehicles.
These etched numbers are difficult to remove and have been proven effective in making vehicles less likely to be targeted by car thieves, according to police.
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In addition to being a deterrent to thieves, state law in New York mandates an insurance premium discount ranging from 2 to 5 percent for automobile owners who participate in the etching program.
In Clarkstown, there were 54 cars stolen in 2010. So far this year, 18 cars have been stolen in Clarkstown.
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In addition to the etching program, Clarkstown police offer another option for automobile owners: the “Watch Your Car Decal Program.”
This program allows owners of cars that are not normally operated during the early morning hours to place two special decals on their cars. The owner signs a consent form saying that if the vehicle is seen being driven between the hours of 1 a.m. and 5 a.m., the police can stop the car and make sure it is not stolen or being used illegally.
For more information, call the Clarkstown Police Community Policing Unit at 845-639-5980.
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