Burglary of Vehicles are on the Rise

 

The Austin Police Department Auto Theft Interdiction Unit has seen an increase in burglary of vehicles since the beginning of the year and the numbers continue to rise.  Thieves are targeting Shopping Malls, Apartment Complexes, Hike & Bike Trails, Hospitals, any large parking facilities and residential driveways.

 

The APD Auto Theft Interdiction project and the APD District Representative Units will be working on burglary of vehicle initiatives by walking through parking lots and looking for valuables that are visible through vehicle windows.  A “Crime Prevention Notice” will be placed under the windshield wiper to help educate owners about their need to protect themselves against vehicle burglary.

 

Items stolen include lap top computers, purses, wallets, cell phones, cameras, credit cards, GPS systems, radios, CDs and other items left in plain view.  Burglary of vehicles can be prevented if citizens take a few precautions to reduce the probability of being victimized. 

 

APD reminds us to protect our vehicles from Auto Theft and Burglary of Vehicle by taking precautions that will make your vehicle less of a target: 

 

·        Lock Your Car – don’t make it easier for the thief to enter your vehicle.

·        Park in well-lit areas – Over half of all vehicle theft occurs at night.

·        Don’t leave valuables in plain view – don’t make your car a more desirable target and attract thieves by leaving valuables in plain sight.

 

The APD Auto Theft Interdiction Project programs are funded through the Texas Automobile Burglary and Theft Prevention Authority to reduce auto and burglary theft in the State of Texas.