LANSING - The Michigan Automobile Theft Prevention Authority (ATPA) recently announced that auto thefts in Michigan are down 9.35 percent from 2009 to 2010.  Since the inception of the ATPA in 1986, auto thefts in Michigan have fallen by 62 percent.

"Our success in the battle against auto theft is the direct result of the dedication and efforts of the 110 men and women who are funded by grants provided by the ATPA and are a part of our state's law enforcement agencies, prosecuting attorney's offices and statewide community groups," said Dan Vartanian, Executive Director of the ATPA.  "Thanks also should be directed to our partners in the fight against auto crime: Crime Stoppers, HEAT (Help Eliminate Auto Thefts), and the many investigators around the state who are employed by the insurance industry."

Additional auto theft statistics from 2011:

The ATPA is funded by an annual $1 assessment on each insured noncommercial passenger vehicle, plus interest earned by investing those funds.  It is governed by a seven-member board of directors appointed by the Governor, which includes representatives of law enforcement, automobile insurers and consumers of automobile insurance.  Each year the board awards grants to law enforcement agencies, prosecutors' offices and nonprofit community organizations to prevent auto theft, catch auto thieves and put the thieves in jail.