KESQ introduces you to ‘The Car Whisperer’

California has the highest rate of stolen cars of any state in the country, with about 437 cars stolen per 100,000 people, according to a recent survey from Bankrate.

But one Indio Police officer is making a career out of putting the brakes on the trend.

“I just at one point found one, it was fun, and from that point on, I just kept looking for them,” Officer Abe Plata said. “And now, as I’m driving around, even when I’m not looking for one, I’ll come across one.”

Plata has served with Indio Police for 16 years. During that time, he’s made a name with his work in recovering stolen cars.

“The Car Whisperer,” Sgt. Dan Marshall with Indio Police said. “I actually believe that the cars tell Abe, ‘Hey, I’m a stolen car,’ because the way he gets them and the way he finds them is uncanny.”

Plata said his main tools include access to what’s known as the “hot sheet,” a database with information linked to every reported stolen car in the Valley, and an eye for scoping out stolen rides.

“I just keep a good eye out,” Plata said. “I stay observant while I’m driving. I don’t get tunnel vision. I can multi-task at the same time while I’m driving. I’ll try to remember the last three (letters or numbers) of the license plate. And while I’m driving around, if I’m going to a call, or whether I’m just driving, I just keep an eye out. And if I see the description that fits one in the hot sheet, I’ll catch up to that one and run the license plate, and take it from there.”

As the number of stolen cars ‘Car Whisperer’ uncovered grew, he said the state started taking notice.

Plata said he’s received more than two dozen of California Highway Patrol’s 10851 pin.

“To get that, an officer will have to recover 12 stolen cars and at least three of those stolen cars, make an arrest, or recover six stolen cars with an arrest,” Plata said.

Most recently, he received the 10851 Lifetime Achievement Award. He said he’s only the second law enforcement officer in Southern California ever to receive that particular award.

We decided to ride along to see how exactly the ‘Car Whisperer’ works, and got a first-hand look at where he finds cars, and signs of what appeared to be a stolen cars.

Then, the ‘Car Whisperer’ got a call of a suspicious person with no license plates with masks on in a nearby neighborhood.

Moments after Plata arrived at the scene, nearly half a dozen Indio Police officers show up for reinforcement.

After the driver and passenger got out of the car, the ‘Car Whisperer’ checks to see what else is inside, and found a Jack Daniels bottle, white masks and a handgun in the front seat.

In the back seat were license plates. And Plata said the car had an expired registration.

Another call under the ‘Car Whisperer’s’ belt, continuing to keep the streets safe with fellow officers, while teaching the knowledge that’s driven him throughout the years.

“If you’re a car thief and you’re driving a stolen car, and you’re on the freeway, you might want to detour if you see the City of Indio sign,” Plata said. “Just keep going. Because if I’m working, and if you come into the city with a stolen car, I will find you.”