July Is “Watch Your Car Month” In Texas

The El Paso County Auto Burglary & Theft Prevention Task Force and the El Paso Police Department will be offering Vehicle Identification Number Etching Free of charge to the public along with Auto Theft Prevention materials and free promotional gifts on Thursday, July 29, 2010, Friday, July 20, 2010, and Saturday, July 31, 2010. The Free Etching will take place at the El Paso Auto Registration located at 7580 Alameda, El Paso Auto Registration at 1030 N. Zaragosa, and Wal-Mart located at 8115 Yarbrough. Your Vehicle’s Identification Number is the “finger print,” of your vehicle when that number is etched into the glass of your vehicle, it makes those parts less valuable to a thief who may have wanted to steal your vehicle. Those parts become worthless. Most insurance companies will offer a discount for having VIN etching. In an effort to reduce the Auto Theft Rate in Texas, the Texas Auto Burglary & Theft Prevention Authority would like to remind vehicle owner to place your valuables out of sight, lock your vehicle and take your keys. In Texas over half of the stolen vehicles have the keys in the ignition. In El Paso over one quarter of stolen vehicles have the keys left in the ignition. It is not only careless to do this but it also against the law in Texas. Leaving the keys in the ignition and the vehicle un attended carries a fine of up to $500.00. For more information contact: Darrel Petry, PIO @ 915.564.7322 or 915.564.6950 Pager #6101 Media Contact is Officer Steven Plummer and can be reached at 915.298.9600 or cell 915.892.3484