FOR RELEASE:
March 3, 2003
2-3-03
FOR INFORMATION:
Mitch Wilson/Mary Bonelli: 614.228.1593
After hours: Mitch – 614.868.0575/Mary – 614.443.0400
OHIO HIGHWAY PATROL TROOPERS HONORED FOR AUTO THEFT RECOVERIES
COLUMBUS–The
recovery of over 38,500 vehicles valued at more than $182.7
million can be attributed to the Ohio
State Highway Patrol's ongoing vehicle theft recovery program,
according to the Ohio Insurance Institute (OII). State Troopers
involved in last year's recovery efforts were recognized
last month by the OII and Ohio’s insurance industry.
The Ohio Highway Patrol's Blue Max "Ace Award" program
focuses on the recovery of stolen vehicles and apprehension
of alleged auto thieves. When a State Trooper stops a driver
for a moving violation, the vehicle’s serial number
is run through a computerized database as a matter of routine
to determine ownership. If the vehicle was reported stolen,
the tracking system information reflects this and the Trooper
responds by apprehending the alleged thief and recovering
the vehicle.
“The insurance industry is very appreciative of the
Patrol’s efforts in curbing auto theft” said
F.W. “Bill” Purmort, OII chair, and president
and chairman of Central Insurance Companies. “The 33
troopers receiving the 2002 Ace designation have earned a
place in Patrol history as one of the top three largest groups
of Aces – 43 were honored in 1975, and 34 in 1980.”
Troopers receive a "lightning bolt" decal to display
on their patrol cars for every stolen vehicle recovered.
Those earning five or more bolts in a year are designated
as an "Ace." The Blue Max is awarded to the Ohio
Trooper recovering the most stolen vehicles during the year.
The 2002 Blue Max Award was presented to Trooper Brian D.
Foltz of the Granville post, who recovered 10 stolen vehicles
valued at over $100,000 and apprehended 11 suspects.
Other 2002 Ace Award recipients honored were: Troopers Gregory
T. Allen, Tony D. Stephens and Bruce D. Zuchowski (Warren
post); Troopers Thomas N. Bee, Joseph R. Glascox, John A.
Johnson, Lance S. Shearer and Craig P. Willison (Delaware
post); Troopers Jeffery L. Bernard, Kevin R. Milligan and
Anne R. Ralston (Cambridge post); Troopers William N. Bowers
and Jeffrey T. Dickens (Walbridge post); Trooper Chad T.
Canter (Ironton post); Troopers Shad E. Caplinger and Samuel
K. Hendricks (Circleville post); Trooper Joseph M. Costarella
(Medina post); Trooper Jonathon D. DeWitt (Canton post);
Trooper David S. Garber (Mt. Gilead post); Troopers Charles
G. Grizzard and Travis A. Hughes (Lima post); Troopers Dana
M. Hutton and Jennifer J. Stabler (Chillicothe post); Trooper
Scott J. Kuntz (Batavia post); Trooper Ricardo O. Jones (Granville
post); Trooper Jeffrey T. Moorhead (Portsmouth post); Troopers
Shane M. Morrow and Ryan D. Randall (Mansfield post); Trooper
James C. Oaks (Lisbon post); Trooper Darwin R. Reed (Piqua
post); Trooper Thomas A. Shevlin (Ravenna post); and Trooper
Michael S. Trader (Ashtabula post).
According to the OII, the Ohio Highway Patrol recovered
946 vehicles valued at nearly $4.9 million and made 758 auto
theft arrests in 2002. Over 28,800 auto theft-related arrests
can be attributed to the program since its inception in 1972.
According to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reports, 44,229 vehicles
were reported stolen in Ohio during 2001, an 8.2% increase
from the previous year. OII estimates the 2001 value of unrecovered
vehicles in Ohio approached $111.7 million.
The FBI also reports that in 1970, 84 percent of vehicle
owners whose cars were stolen got them back. By 2001, the
retrieval rate dropped to 62 percent.
The OII is a trade association representing insurance companies
and agent groups for Ohio's property/casualty insurance industry.
A primary objective is to increase understanding of insurance
and related safety issues.
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CLICK HERE for a summary of ACE statistics for the most
recent five-year period and brief bios of the 2002 honorees.
(PDF
file)
Additional auto theft statistics:
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