About the Florida Anti-Car Theft Committee

F.A.C.T. is a not-for-profit corporation formed in early 1995 to raise drivers’ awareness of the seriousness of Florida’s car theft problem and encourage anti-theft habits.

The F.A.C.T. committee is comprised of approximately 225 members including representatives from law enforcement agencies, insurance companies, and other business and community organizations who share the common goal of reducing vehicle theft in Florida. While reducing the number of stolen vehicles is a chief goal of F.A.C.T., additional benefits will include an overall reduction in crime and lower insurance premiums.

F.A.C.T. uses the diversity of this membership to create and guide its Middle School and High School educational campaigns. The first campaign began in 1995 and urged Floridians to Get the F.A.C.T.s. Programs were conducted in Broward, Dade, Duval, Hillsborough, and Palm Beach counties which had the highest car theft rate in Florida. Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) etchings were done within each county. Research has shown that VIN etching is great protection against auto theft. An informational brochure, produced in English and Spanish for use throughout Florida, emphasizes that car owners are the first line of defense against theft.

The current campaign continues the awareness and education program which began with Get the F.A.C.T.s and adds “Park Smart” and “A Ride For Life: the Consequence of Auto Theft.” “Park Smart” educates drivers about the impact of car theft and encourage habits that will deter vehicle thefts. “A Ride For Life” program, targeted towards middle school students, stresses the consequences of juvenile involvement in automobile theft, which is a felony.

F.A.C.T. has worked with other F.A.C.T. grant recipients, such as the State Attorney’s Office, to identify repeat juvenile auto theft offenders to use as spokespersons in the school programs. These young offenders shared with other students through real-life experiences what can happen if they choose to participate in auto theft.

If you have information about a juvenile offender who would be interested in presenting to a middle school or for more information about this program, please contact Melanie McShane at (813) 839-2247.

You may download a F.A.C.T. application for membership in PDF format (28k)

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F.A.C.T. Events

“A Ride For Life” Presentation

The Florida Anti-Car Theft Committee, (F.A.C.T.) along with the Seminole County Sheriff’s Department City County Auto Theft Task Force, presented to over 200 students at Lawton Chiles Middle School, “A Ride For Life: the Consequence of Auto Theft,” an instructional program aimed at educating middle school students about the consequences of auto theft. Anthony Berrios, coordinator, Seminole County Sheriff’s Department City County Auto Theft Task Force, gave the presentation.

F.A.C.T. Statewide Press Conference

The Florida Anti-Car Theft Committee (F.A.C.T.) held a statewide press conference in September of 1999 at the Capitol Courtyard in Tallahassee to share the success of F.A.C.T.’s “A Ride For Life” education program.

Speakers included: Lieutenant Governor Frank Brogan; Attorney General Bob Butterworth; and Colonel Charles C. Hall, Florida Highway Patrol Director and F.A.C.T. Chairman, and Drew Walston, Progressive Insurance.

The importance of continuing “A Ride For Life” throughout the state of Florida and the need to educate young people about the consequences of stealing a vehicle were presented. This year’s press conference attracted the attention of Students Against Destructive Decisions (S.A.D.D.) president, Kristy Owens, who spoke about “A Ride For Life” and the organizations’ support.

Nims Middle School students participated in the press conference wearing F.A.C.T. t-shirts.

The startling statistics, as reported by the FDLE, show that 35 percent of those arrested for auto theft in Florida are juveniles. It’s a fact that auto theft is a gateway crime, leading children down the path to more criminal and destructive behavior.

Throughout the state of Florida, over a hundred middle schools are receiving “A Ride For Life: the Consequence of Auto Theft” message that there is no “joy” in joyriding and there are grave consequences to reckless behavior.

The good news is since 1996, Florida has seen a 10 percent decrease in juvenile arrests for this crime. But there is still much work to be done. And F.A.C.T., leading the charge against auto theft through its statewide education program, has committed to another year of curbing juvenile involvement in auto theft. F.A.C.T. knows that prevention through education is the key.

F.A.C.T. would like to acknowledge the following corporate partners for their support and community involvement to help reduce auto theft in Florida:

• AAA Auto Club South
• The Club
• LoJack
• Progressive Insurance

CLICK HERE to view Lieutenant Governor Frank Brogan’s speech (approx. 4 min.) in Real Player. (Click here for free Real Player Download).

The Florida Association of School Resource Officers
(FASRO) Conference

The Florida Association of School Resource Officers (FASRO) Summer 1999 Conference was held in Key West, Florida on July 26th-30th. F.A.C.T. presented the middle and high school anti-auto theft education programs to over 200 school resource officers (SRO’s) from around the state. Each SRO had the chance to ask questions about the programs, and receive information on techniques to start a class discussion on the choices and consequences of auto theft. Both the “Park Smart” and “A Ride For Life” programs were distributed. F.A.C.T. would like to thank all of the SRO’s who have committed to using this program in their various classrooms.

High School Students Learn to “Park Smart”

F.A.C.T. and Hillsborough Drivers Education teachers kicked off “Park Smart” high school program at Plant High School in November of 1998. This program teaches young drivers about how to prevent auto theft and help reduce this costly crime in our state.

“A Ride For Life” News Conference.

Florida Highway Patrol Director Colonel Charles C. Hall and Deputy Attorney General Richard Doran were the speakers at this news conference in September of 1998 and gave an update on juvenile auto theft problems in Florida and what F.A.C.T. is doing to proactively address this situation. Also pictured are students from Leon County’s Nims Middle School.