BRAZOS COUNTY, TX — Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority is urging people to protect themselves from car theft this holiday season.
The agency said almost 77,000 vehicles were stolen last year in Texas alone. On top of that, nearly 200,000 vehicles are burglarized each year. That loss comes at a hefty price tag of almost $1.5 billion for Texans.
Locking your doors and taking your keys with you are two small measures that go a long way.
The agency strongly recommends people take valuables out of the car or hide them. Parking in a well-lit area with the wheels turned toward the curb and your emergency break on makes your car harder to tow away.
Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority Chairman and Galveston County Sheriff’s Office Lieutenant Tommy Hansen said “Over 80% of communities that have a motor vehicle theft taskforce funded by MVCPA reported that keys left in cars and cars unlocked were the major contributors to these crimes.”
Often times these stolen vehicles disappear, and/or are connected to some other crime like sex trafficking. That can all be avoided if people take the proper safety precautions.
