Help Eliminate Auto Thefts (H.E.A.T.)

Michigan - HEAT® (Help Eliminate Auto Thefts) is Michigan’s statewide auto theft prevention program that coordinates citizen action with law enforcement agencies through a confidential, toll-free tip line (1-800-242-HEAT) for reporting information on stolen vehicles and suspected auto theft activities including insurance fraud and carjackings.

Michigan insurers initiated HEAT®, a statewide tip reward program, in 1985 to encourage citizen participation and cooperation with law enforcement agencies to curb auto theft related activity. HEAT® is funded through and administered by the Michigan auto insurance industry through the Michigan Automobile Insurance Placement Facility (M.A.I.P.F.), an association of automobile insurers in the state. The HEAT ® toll-free tip number for reporting information on stolen vehicles and suspected auto theft activities is 1-800-242-HEAT (4328).

HEAT® is (1) an avenue for citizens to help their local police agencies eliminate auto theft, and (2) a way to let prosecuting attorneys and judges know that the citizens in this state believe that auto theft is a heinous crime which affects all of us by making our communities unsafe while increasing our taxes and insurance premiums.

HEAT® rewards citizens for information that leads to the arrest and prosecution of individuals suspected of auto theft, auto theft related insurance fraud, auto theft related identity theft, auto theft ring members, chop shop operators and carjackers.

HEAT® REWARDS: Tip callers are rewarded with

* up to $1,000 if their tip leads to the arrest and warrant of a suspected car thief and for auto theft related insurance fraud and/or identity theft;
* up to $10,000 is awarded if the tip results in the arrest and binding over for trial of suspected theft ring members and/or chop shop operators.
* $2,000 for information for arrest and warrant of a carjacking suspect.

CONFIDENTIALITY. A key component in the success of HEAT® is the confidentiality of the program. Guidelines are in place to protect the confidentiality of the caller, individual police officers, specific addresses, and other specific reference data.

When submitting a HEAT® tip, the caller may use a legitimate name or an alias. If testimony is requested in the prosecution of the auto theft activity, the decision to come forward and testify is up to the caller. Rewards are paid when suspects are arrested and prosecuted for an auto theft related crime. For chop shop and theft ring operations, the suspect must be bound over for trial - conviction of the crime is not necessary.

HOW TO REPORT A TIP

By calling 1-800-242-HEAT®, callers can offer information on auto theft activity throughout Michigan. The HEAT® tip line is a confidential toll-free hotline. The tip line is monitored by the Michigan State Police Criminal Investigation Section, which directs tip information to the appropriate police agencies throughout the state.

The HEAT® tip line is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If the auto theft activity is in progress please call your local police, then call 1-800-242-HEAT® . Tipsters may also report auto theft activities confidentially online!

Whether you call the HEAT® tip line or submit a tip online, the Michigan State Police forwards your tip to the appropriate law enforcement agency for immediate investigation.

OUT OF STATE TIPS

The Michigan HEAT® Program is a statewide program. HEAT® pays for information about auto theft activity which takes place in Michigan and/or is prosecuted in Michigan. If you are in another state and become aware of auto theft activity, report the activity to the local law enforcement agency. However, you would not be eligible for a reward from the Michigan HEAT® Program for these tips. Other auto theft prevention programs:

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Illinois has a Beat Auto Theft (BAT) Program.
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Combat Auto Theft (CAT) is used in California, Louisiana, Minnesota, and Pennsylvania. To report suspicious vehicle theft activities in California , call 1-800-TELL-CHP.
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Virginia has a statewide tip reward program. To report auto theft activity in Virginia, call 1-800-947-HEAT.
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Watch Your Car Program. This program encourages owners of motor vehicles to voluntarily display a decal or device, such as a state-issued, customized license plate, on their vehicles to alert police that their vehicles normally are not driven between the hours of 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. Motorists also may choose to display another decal or device to signify that their vehicles normally are not driven across or in the proximity of international land borders or ports. A few states that have this program are Arizona, Maryland and Texas, call 1-800-CAR-WATCH.

* RELATED LINKS

THOSE INELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE HEAT® TIP REWARDS

* Police officers or any household resident or relative. (Relative being spouse, son, daughter, mother, father, sibling, grandparent, aunt, uncle, cousin, niece, nephew, in-law or any step relative.)
* Individuals directly involved in the HEAT®