LA PALMA : Drivers Can Sign Up for Anti-Theft Plan

Beginning today, people who rarely drive in the wee hours of the morning can join a vehicle anti-theft program sponsored by the Police Department and the Automobile Club of Southern California.

The Combat Auto Theft program, now available in eight Orange County cities and about 75 Southern California communities, allows residents and business owners to invite police officers to stop their vehicles anytime between 1 and 5 a.m. A bright yellow sticker, placed on the inside of the rear window, lets police know that a vehicle is part of the program. According to crime statistics, most car thefts occur during the early morning hours.

“The beauty of the program is it gives us the opportunity to stop those cars,” La Palma police Cmdr. Vince Giampa said. Normally, police must suspect that an occupant of a car has committed a crime or traffic violation before stopping a motorist.

If a car with a sticker is pulled over between 1 and 5 a.m. and the driver is not the registered owner, police will contact the owner to determine whether the car has been stolen.

Because of the strict nature of the program, not everyone will find it useful, Giampa said.

Vehicle theft accounts for almost half the dollars lost in property crimes nationwide, according to the National Automobile Theft Bureau. In La Palma, the number of vehicle thefts has increased 64% since 1987, to 188 vehicles stolen last year, Giampa said.

“One hundred and eighty eight cars is an awful lot of cars for a city our size,” he said.

In order to sign up for the program, La Palma residents and business owners must bring the vehicle, their registration form and a picture ID to the Police Department. The process takes 5 to 10 minutes, Giampa said.

The department will officially kick off the program at tonight’s City Council meeting at City Hall. Officers will set up a table at the meeting for anyone interested in signing, up Giampa said.

Other Orange County cities participating in the program are Anaheim, Buena Park, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, La Habra, Mission Viejo and San Clemente.