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Tarrant County has been a state-wide leader in reducing vehicle theft. The
Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney’s Office participates in the Tarrant
County Auto Theft Task Force, which operates under the umbrella of the Tarrant
County Sheriff’s Department. Fifteen separate agencies, including eleven local
city law enforcement agencies, participate in the Task Force. An investigator
commissioned by our office serves as the Task Force’s commander, and a
litigation specialist is assigned to process and coordinate civil court filings
and other vital tasks. |
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The Task Force operates under a grant from the Texas Automobile Theft
Prevention Authority and with local support. The program received recognition at
the annual conference of the International Association of Chiefs of Police in
1996, 1997, and 1998. |
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Ways to
Guard Against Auto Theft |
Take
Your Keys
One out of every five vehicles stolen had the keys in it. Lock Your Car. Approximately half of all vehicles stolen were left unlocked.
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Never
Hide a Second Set of Keys in Your Car
Extra keys can easily be found if a thief takes time to look. |
Park in
Well-Lighted Areas and Attended Lots when possible
Auto thieves do not like witnesses and prefer unattended parking lots. |
If You Park in an Attended Lot, Leave Only the Ignition/Door Key
If your trunk and glove box use the same key as the door, have one of them changed. Don't give the attendant easy access to your glove box and trunk. Upon returning, check the tires, spare and battery to insure they are the same as those you had when you parked.
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Never
Leave Your Car Running
Vehicles
are commonly stolen at convenience stores, gas stations,
ATM's, etc. Many vehicles are also stolen on cold
mornings when the owner leaves the vehicle running to
warm up. Leaving your key in an unattended motor vehicle
is a crime in Texas punishable by a fine of up to $200 |
Completely Close Car Windows When Parking
Don't make it any easier for the thief to enter your vehicle.
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Don't
Leave Valuables in Plain View
Don't make your car a more desirable target for thieves by leaving valuables in plain sight.
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