Grand Theft Auto: Austin

Blending in and staying low are critical for the perfect capture without the
chase. Though this technique takes patience, in time it becomes worth it because cops
can detain a potential auto thief or thieves who are caught by surprise.
Because of surveillance, some of my team members was present when the
crime occurred and apprehended the suspect, APD Sergeant Felecia Williams said
recounting this incident that occurred in the summer.
Undercover operations like this and multiple auto theft prevention programs
have lead to Austins reported number of car thefts decreasing over the years, which
continued to decline so far this year.
Every five years it seems to increase, last year and this year looks like
everything has been going good, said Diana Amaro, who is assigned to the APD Auto
Theft Interdiction Project as a neighborhood liaison.
Information obtained from APD shows that auto thefts from the beginning of
2013 to the end of August had a 7 percent decrease compared to year to date of August
last year.
Amaro said Texas ranks as the second-highest state in auto thefts, a statistic that
can be found in the Reduce Auto Theft in Texas website, which is a grant office funded
by the Texas Automobile Burglary and Theft Prevention Authority.

According to APD records management system, vehicle thefts for 2012 were
2,448. But 2011 had a total of 2,256, a 9 percent decrease in just one year.
Well put up signs especially during the holidays, and use banners on buildings,
have public service announcements, shows ads in movies theatres, community events in
English and Spanish, Amaro said about raising awareness.
APDs Annual Crime and Traffic Report: 2011 Final Report shows there was a
4.9 percent decrease from total car thefts in 2010 to 2011. In the same report, Austins
auto theft rate in 2011 was 51 percent lower than the average of U.S. cities of the same
size, falling closely behind Fort Worth, which had 323 auto thefts per 100,000 people.
Austin had 265 auto thefts per 100,000 people.
Williams said there are even boat, trailer, motorcycle and scooter thefts. Williams
also said the polices work includes working together, using surveillance, and long
investigative work.
Since 1997, 212 arrests have been made using the undercover operation that
Austin Police Department's Auto Theft Interdiction Program uses with a bait vehicle.
The city also has the Salvage Yard Inspection Program and the Vehicle Identification
Number (VIN) Etching Program to prevent these crimes.
For Austin, Amaro said its auto recovery rate is more than 75 percent which when
referring to the 2011 report is higher than that of Texas and the United States. Texas had
a 56 percent recovery rate while the U.S. had a 53 percent rate that year.

The consequence for this crime can be anywhere from state jail of six months to a
second or third degree felony. This depends on the manner of the theft, value of the
vehicle and the thiefs criminal history and age.
Williams said auto theft is a gateway crime that may lead to another, possibly
bigger crime. She would like to remind people to not leave any keys in cars, glove box,
anytime and take your stuff or hide it.
Auto theft offenses reached over one million in 2011 nationwide, recorded in
FBIs crime reports which also said that this number was a 6.7 decrease from 2010.
Although this crime seems to be lessening in numbers, an effective way for the rates to
continue to decrease is by informing the public.
Williams makes a point that what may have just been a break in to steal
something that was left in sight, can lead to stealing the car if the burglar finds the keys
inside.