College Station, Texas, Expands Auto Theft Prevention Program

The Insurance Council of Texas (ICT) and the College Station Police Department are expanding a crime prevention campaign aimed at preventing auto thefts and auto burglaries. The program involves the funding and distribution of signs that read, “LOCK your car, TAKE your keys and HIDE your belongings.”

Sergeant Janice Kemp of the College Station Police Department said their officers have seen the positive effects of the LOCK, TAKE and HIDE program and they welcome the addition of 100 more signs to erect around the city that houses 49,000 Texas A&M students.

“We have way too many cell phones, lap tops and GPS units simply disappear because they were left in clear view of auto burglars,” said Sgt. Kemp.

In Texas, an estimated 100,000 vehicles are stolen and another 250,000 are burglarized each year. It is also estimated that half of the vehicles stolen had the drivers’ keys left in the ignition and/or unlocked doors.

ICT initially started the crime prevention program in Austin on March 2, 2005, and has since begun similar programs in Round Rock, Garland, Mesquite, Frisco, Celina, Del Rio, Houston, Laredo, Brownsville, Highland Village, Beaumont and Galveston.

Source: The Insurance Council of Texas