FOR RELEASE ON:  March, 14, 2000

OHIO HIGHWAY PATROL TROOPERS RECOGNIZED FOR AUTO THEFT RECOVERY EFFORTS

COLUMBUS-The recovery of over 35,800 vehicles valued at more than $153 million has been attributed to the Ohio State Highway Patrol's 28 year-old vehicle theft recovery program, according to the Ohio Insurance Institute (OII).  State Troopers involved in last year's recovery efforts were honored recently by the OII and Ohio's insurance industry in ceremonies held in Columbus.

The Ohio Highway Patrol's Blue Max "ACE" program focuses on immediate auto theft vehicle recovery and apprehension of alleged perpetrators.  When a driver is stopped by a State Trooper for a moving violation, the vehicle's serial number is run through a computerized data base as a matter of routine to determine its owner.  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.

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 1999 Blue Max Award was presented to Trooper James D. Myers of the Dayton post, Piqua district, who recovered 13 stolen vehicles and 17 suspects last year.  This is Myers' second ACE award.

Other ACE recipients honored were:  Trooper Larry R. Barrett, Wapakoneta post; Trooper Robert L. Franks, Granville post; Trooper Nathan P. Grose, Delaware post; Troopers Harold T. Myers and Jason L. Snodgrass, Springfield post, (this is Myers' second ACE award); Trooper Robert R. Patton, Dayton post, who earned his eighth ACE award; Trooper Scott A. Robinson, Hamilton post; Trooper Rebekka C. Ruzicho, West Jefferson post; and Trooper Shawn M. Whiley, Sandusky post.

According to the OII, the Ohio Highway Patrol recovered 853 vehicles valued at over $5.9 million and made 647 arrests associated with auto theft in 1999.  Over 26,700 auto theft-related arrests can be attributed to the program since its inception in 1972.

The National Insurance Crime Bureau reports that in 1970, 84 percent of vehicle owners whose cars were stolen got them back.  By 1998, the retrieval rate dropped to 65 percent.

According to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reports, 43,021 vehicles were reported stolen in Ohio during 1998, a 5.3 percent decrease from the previous year.  OII estimates the value of unrecovered vehicles in 1998 approached $91 million.  These losses, when covered by insurance, apply to the "other than collision" (comprehensive) coverage section of an auto policy.

The OII is a public information and 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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NOTE: Attached is a summary of ACE statistics for the most recent five-year period.  Brief bios of the 1999 honorees are also provided.  Additional auto theft statistics are available by contacting the OII at 614-228-1593.

(Click here for a summary of ACE statistics for the most recent five-year period and brief bios of the 1999 honorees in PDF format.)