COUNTYWIDE : Sheriff Offers Decals to Curb Car Theft

The Ventura County Sheriff’s Department has added a new weapon to the arsenal of gadgets designed to combat car theft.

In addition to car alarms and steering-wheel locks, drivers can protect their vehicles by displaying a new anti-auto theft sticker offered by the Sheriff’s Department.

The bright yellow decal was unveiled Thursday at the Sheriff’s Central Division in Camarillo as part of a new program aimed at combatting the increasing number of auto thefts in Ventura County, said Senior Sheriff’s Deputy Glenn Sander.

“In Camarillo alone, we’ve seen over a 100% increase in auto thefts during the last two years,” Sander said. “This is something that will make people aware of the problem.”

The decal is part of a car theft prevention program called Combat Auto Theft, which began in New York City in 1986 and is being used in San Diego and Los Angeles counties.

Drivers are provided with stickers to display in vehicle windows, indicating to police that the auto is generally not driven between the hours of 1 and 5 a.m., Sander said. If the vehicle is driven between those hours, it is subject to being stopped on suspicion of auto theft, he said.

“We can look at the window, see the sticker, and boom , we have probable cause to pull the vehicle over,” Sander said.

People who often drive after 1 a.m. probably won’t want to participate in the program, he said.

Decals can be obtained at the Ventura County Sheriff’s Central Division, 67 Palm Drive, Camarillo, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m to 4:30 p.m., or by calling 482-9844.