Criminal Division

Auto Theft Division

The Texas Auto Burglary and Theft Prevention Authority (ABTPA), a division of your Texas Department of Transportation that helps prevent auto theft and educates citizens on what precautions to take so that their vehicles do not become part of the statistics which include the following:

• In Texas, a vehicle is stolen every 5 minutes.
• A vehicle is burglarized in Texas every 2 1/2 minutes.
• Carjacking is one of the fastest growing crime.

Tips To Protect Your Vehicle

• Never leave your vehicle or house keys in your car.
• Half of all vehicles stolen in Texas (roughly 50,000 annually) are the result of drivers leaving the keys in the ignition.
• Never leave a second set of keys in your vehicle, an experienced thief will know to look for them.
• Never leave your car running and unattended, even if you'll only be gone a minute.
• In Texas, leaving your car running with no one inside it is illegal.
• Cars are often stolen at convenience stores, gas stations or when an owner leaves the vehicle running to warm it up.
• Lock your car.
• Approximately half of the vehicles stolen were left unlocked.
• Hide your valuables, don't tempt thieves by leaving them in plain sight.
• Never park in unattended or poorly lit parking lots.
• Close your window completely.
• Don't leave your registration or personal documents in the vehicle.

For more tips on how to protect yourself and your vehicle or for information about anti-theft devices visit the ATPA website.