SHEBOYGAN, WI (WHBL) - The recently completed Vehicle Check Program is being hailed by Sheboygan Police as a resounding success.
Sgt. Kurt Zempel said the program was conducted by the Law Enforcement Explorer Post, which checked vehicles in areas where there have been a number of vehicles entered. Vehicles were given a passing or failing grade, and then owners were alerted about unlocked doors and valuables in plain view.
Zempel said the first time through, three different city neighborhoods had a 41-percent failure rate. They then returned to those areas for a second check several weeks later, and the failure rate was down to 16-percent - a drop of over 50-percent.
Zempel said it was clear that residents in those neighborhoods got the message that they can help prevent crimes from occurring in the first place. Police plan to continue targeting neighborhoods that have a higher rate of vehicle thefts, thefts from yards and bicycle thefts.