Watch Your Car Program
Watch Your Car Vehicle Theft Reduction Program
Last year, Arizona continued to see some of the highest numbers of vehicle thefts in the nation. That is why the Gilbert Police Department is taking such a proactive stand on reducing the number of vehicle theft in Gilbert.
We encourage all residents to register their vehicles in the FREE Watch Your Car decal program. The Watch Your Car decal program is a program wherein vehicle owners register their vehicles with the Arizona Automobile Theft Authority (AATA) and receive Watch Your Car decals to place in the front and rear windows of their vehicle. These stickers, when displayed, give law enforcement officials permission to stop such vehicles between the hours of 1:00 a.m. until 5:00 a.m. - the high times for automobile thefts - to verify the owner or someone authorized is driving the vehicle.
Enrollment forms for the Watch Your Car Program can be found at various businesses throughout Gilbert displaying Watch Your Car advertisements or you can find the enrollments in the Gilbert Police Department Lobby which is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and located at 75 East Civic Center Drive. You can also enroll in the program through the Arizona Automobile Theft Authority.
Vehicle Identification Number (V.I.N) etching
As an added incentive to become enrolled in the Watch Your Car Decal Program, the Gilbert Police Department will be scheduling free VIN (vehicle Identification Numbers) window etching and distributing free steering wheel locks as part of a statewide grant.
By permanently VIN etching the glass on your vehicle, you have not only required a thief who intends on taking your vehicle to a "chop shop" to change your VIN number and dispose of all the vehicles glass, but also incur the expense of new glass which will cost between $4-$7,000.00. Simply put, if a thief can not make a profit on your vehicle, chances are they may not take it. To obtain a free steering wheel lock or have your windows VIN etched you must bring with you to one of the above clinics, your driver’s license proving Gilbert residency and your vehicle’s Arizona Motor Vehicle registration.
The process is safe, takes about 10 minutes and only affects the outer layer of glass. This vehicle theft reduction program is made possible by funding from the Arizona Auto Theft Authority.
Bait
Vehicle ProgramThis year, Gilbert has become involved in the Bait Vehicle Program. In partnership with the Arizona Automobile Theft Authority, The Bait Vehicle Program uses vehicles equipped with special tracking devices that are activated when the vehicle is tampered with and/or stolen. Once the police know the proximity of the stolen vehicle, the vehicle can be shut off by a remote control making apprehension and arrest safer. Concealed video and audio equipment inside of the vehicle also assists the officers in prosecution of the thieves. View Video
Want to know if the vehicle parked in front of your home has been reported stolen?
The Arizona Attorney General’s Office has designed a website to provide the public with the opportunity to assist law enforcement agencies in locating stolen vehicles. Please contact your local law enforcement agency to report a stolen vehicle. To input information about a vehicle please go to the Arizona Attorney General's Office website.