Texas City Plans to Post Auto Theft Warning Signs From Insurance Council

Police officers in Liberty, Texas, will be putting up crime prevention signs in their city this week to help motorists prevent auto thefts and burglaries.

Black Friday and the holiday shopping season is a great time for business retailers and a time to be on the lookout for criminals trying to take advantage of the shopping season.

The Insurance Council of Texas’ (ICT) Secure, Take and Hide sign is intended to remind Texans to protect their valuables.

“We don’t want to make it easy for burglars and thieves to break into vehicles in our city,” said Liberty Police Chief Billy Tidwell. “These signs carry a simple message that helps prevent break-ins as well as warn criminals to stay away.”

Since 2005, ICT has been providing the crime prevention signs to law enforcement agencies throughout Texas. The easy to read metallic signs say, “SECURE your car, TAKE your keys and HIDE your belongings.”

“The public has a certain amount of responsibility in crime prevention and following the advice on these signs will go a long way in helping law enforcement reduce auto thefts and burglaries,” said Chief Tidwell.

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.

Mark Hanna, a spokesman for ICT said the signs will help Texans deter the criminal element.

“The people who break into cars are simply looking for an opportunity,” said Hanna. “We want to help remind folks remove these opportunities by locking their cars, taking their keys and hiding their valuables.”

The Insurance Council of Texas initially started the crime prevention program in Austin and has since begun similar programs in Round Rock, Garland, Mesquite, Frisco, Celina, Del Rio, Houston, Laredo, Brownsville, Highland Village, College Station, Galveston, Beaumont, Waco, Lubbock, El Paso, Flower Mound and Haltom City.

Source: The Insurance Council of Texas