Protecting Your Vehicle from Theft During the Holiday Season
With holiday cheer in the air, many people find themselves spending hours shopping, going on family outings or enjoying a movie date. Vehicles are left unattended for hours, which increases the chances of them being stolen.
“Just like we’re shopping in the store for Christmas, they’re shopping our vehicles,” Detective Brandon Erb with the Dallas County sheriff’s office said.
Dallas police and deputies say automobile thefts have decreased in the city over the last few years, but the risk remains. Leaving a vehicle with valuables inside alone for long periods, such as during the holidays, can make it a target.
In 2023, Dallas saw about a 40% increase in car thefts compared with the previous year, said Deputy Police Chief William Griffith. But, he said, the number has been steadily dropping.
“One year later, during that same time in 2024 we were down 22% than the previous year,” he said.
The Role of Law Enforcement in Preventing Auto Theft
Officials attribute the decrease in thefts to the work done by the Dallas police and North Texas auto theft task force teams, the usage of artificial intelligence-powered Flock cameras and teaching residents how best to prevent their vehicles from being stolen.
Police and deputies with the North Texas auto theft task force work together to take down auto theft rings, locate suspects who have sold stolen vehicles to unaware buyers, connect stolen vehicles to other crimes they may be used in and more.
Dallas County deputies with the North Texas task force have a combined seven full-time detectives, as well as part-timers, who investigate thefts in Dallas County and across North Texas.
“We basically assist a lot of different agencies that don’t have the manpower to reserve people toward auto theft and assist them with their investigations,” Erb said.
Griffith said police use Flock cameras to locate the vehicles or the people who may have taken them.
He said police have access to hundreds of Flock cameras, which are license plate readers, across the city used to identify suspects and stolen vehicles.
Is that Car You’re Buying Stolen?
During the holiday season, people aren’t just going to stores to make purchases. Some might consider buying vehicles online. A trend deputies are seeing is vehicles being stolen, the VIN numbers switched and the vehicles being sold online to unaware buyers, detective John Robinson with the task force said.
“A lot of innocent purchases bought off Facebook Marketplace,” Robinson said, “they’ll have the information on the seller, but nine times out of 10, we’re seeing the sellers producing a fake ID, with a fake name, fake address and the information we get like the phone number, by the time we get it, they’ve already shut the account down.”
When the price of a vehicle online seems too good to be true, it more than likely is, Robinson said.
He suggested having a law enforcement officer tag along during the purchase or to take the seller to the tax office beforehand to confirm the vehicle is theirs when buying off social media or Facebook Marketplace.
“The tax office is going to know right away,” he said. “And if it’s fraudulent there, they’re going to let somebody know, and they’re going to call us immediately.”
A few other red flags deputies said to look out for when purchasing vehicles off social media include:
- A brand new profile with very few friends and barely any pictures
- A newer profile that was made within the last six months
- The vehicle is $10,000 to $30,000 cheaper than the market value
- Marketing the vehicle as rebuilt salvage
How to Protect Your Car from Thieves
It’s very rare that people are stalking driveways to steal cars, Erb said. It’s usually hotels, stores, concerts, movie theaters and restaurants that are targeted, he said.
“They love those because you got at least 90 minutes that these people are going to be away from their car,” Erb said.
It’s essential to lock the vehicle doors and put everything below the windows because if not, it could attract unwanted attention, Griffith said.
“Make sure you get everything out of your car, or don’t leave it visible, especially during the holidays, because that’s when people are more susceptible to be victims of theft,” he said.
For vehicles that use key fobs, deputies also suggest buying extra security, as car thieves can reprogram the vehicle to start without the owner’s key. Using additional security measures, such as alarms and steering wheel locks, can slow thieves down and deter them from stealing the vehicle.
“The thing about theft is it’s a crime of opportunity,” Erb said. “There’s nothing that you can do that’s going to be 100% safe proof that’s going to keep these guys out. They know what they’re doing. They can get into anything, and they can start anything. All you can do as a civilian is just to make it as difficult as possible so they move on to the next one.”
Conclusion
As the holiday season approaches, it’s crucial to take extra precautions to protect your vehicle from theft. By being aware of the risks and taking steps to prevent theft, you can help ensure a safe and enjoyable holiday season.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions about protecting your vehicle from theft:
Q: What can I do to prevent my car from being stolen?
A: Always lock your vehicle doors, keep valuables out of sight, and consider investing in additional security measures such as alarms and steering wheel locks.
Q: What are the most common types of vehicles stolen?
A: GMC trucks, Cadillac, and Chevrolet vehicles tend to be taken the most.
Q: How can I avoid buying a stolen vehicle online?
A: Be cautious of vehicles priced significantly lower than market value, and consider having a law enforcement officer present during the purchase or taking the seller to the tax office to confirm the vehicle’s ownership.
Q: What should I do if I suspect my vehicle has been stolen?
A: Contact the police immediately and report the theft. Provide as much information as possible, including the vehicle’s make, model, and VIN number.
