Police Departments Across Virginia Recognized for Helping to Fight Car Theft
Richmond, Virginia (PRWEB) September 15, 2014 -- The Virginia State Police (VSP) Help Eliminate Auto Theft (H.E.A.T.) Program honored 22 law enforcement departments throughout Virginia for their efforts to combat auto theft.
The 2013-2014 Operation HEATWave Awards were presented to police departments at the annual conference of the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police in Roanoke on Monday, Sept. 8. Sheriff departments will receive their awards at a later date.
Operation HEATWave Awards are part of a cooperative program between the VSP, the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles and local law enforcement agencies. They recognize exemplary actions related to intelligence, prevention, enforcement and recoveries in fighting the crime of vehicle theft.
“The actions of these law enforcement agencies and many others in the Commonwealth are resulting in the continued decline of auto thefts in Virginia,” said First Sgt. Steve Hall, Program Coordinator for the Virginia State Police H.E.A.T. Program.
A total of 8,319 thefts were reported statewide in 2013 – 6 percent fewer than in 2012. Since the beginning of the H.E.A.T. Program in 1992, the state has seen a significant decline in motor vehicle thefts of almost 61 percent.
A complete statistical analysis and downloadable copy of H.E.A.T.’s annual report are available at: http://bit.ly/1uHzJVa.
The following law enforcement agencies were recognized for their achievements:
- Central State Hospital Police Department
- Hampton Sheriff’s Office
- Henrico County Division of Police
- Hopewell Police Department
- Loudoun County Sheriff's Office
- Lynchburg Police Department
- Martinsville Sheriff’s Office
- Montgomery County Sheriff's Office
- New Kent County Sheriff's Office
- Nottoway County Sheriff's Office
- Petersburg Sheriff’s Office
- Roanoke City Police Department
- Roanoke City Sheriff's Office
- Salem City Police Department
- South Hill Police Department
- Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office
- Suffolk City Sheriff's Office
- Town of Culpeper Police Department
- Town of Drakes Branch Police Department
- Town of Pulaski Police Department
- Warren County Sheriff's Office
- Wythe County Sheriff's Office
ABOUT THE HELP ELIMINATE AUTOTHEFT (H.E.A.T.) PROGRAM
Founded in 1992, H.E.A.T. is a cooperative effort of the Virginia Department of State Police, Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles and local law enforcement agencies to combat auto theft throughout the commonwealth. The H.E.A.T. Program offers rewards for tipsters up to $25,000 for auto theft-related information leading to arrests. Tips can be submitted online at http://www.HeatReward.com or by calling the theft tip line (1-800-947-HEAT). Tipsters always remain anonymous. For more information about the H.E.A.T. program, visit http://www.heatreward.com or Facebook.
First Sgt. Steve Hall, Virginia State Police H.E.A.T. Program, http://www.heatreward.com, +1 804-640-9850, [email protected]
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