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Vehicle Burglary Prevention


Vehicle burglaries are a crime of opportunity, and would-be thieves often target vehicles of those on vacation or vehicles parked in large parking lots.  In fact, the average burglar simply checks for unlocked car door handles, spends less than a minute inside the vehicle, and always checks the glove box, door panels, and center console first.  But these crimes are preventable, and there are some easy steps you can take to keep yourself from becoming a voluntary victim of vehicle burglary and theft.

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Lock, Take, and Hide

Lock, Take, and Hide is an easy 3-step plan that drastically reduces your chances of becoming a victim:

  • Lock your car doors.
  • Take your valuables with you. (This includes cell phones, wallets/purses, GPS units, computers, weapons, and jewelry).
  • Or, at least, Hide those valuables so they aren’t in plain sight.

Here are some other helpful tips:
  • Never leave your keys in the car or leave the vehicle running while unattended.  Also, don’t hide spare keys in or under the vehicle.  Over 25% of all stolen vehicles had the keys left in the vehicle.
  • If you have an alarm system on your vehicle, use it.
  • Securing items in your trunk is a good way to deter theft, but don’t place your property in the trunk at the time you park.  Thieves will be watching for that, and can later enter your vehicle and open the trunk to steal your property.
  • Park in well-lit areas and be alert to your surroundings.
  • Use anti-theft devices. The use of devices such as a steering wheel lock, electronic alarm, an ignition kill-switch, gas cap lock, window VIN etching and a vehicle tracking device all protect your vehicle and deter vehicle theft.
  • Document the serial numbers of your property or etch some type of identifying information on the property to help locate and identify it later in case of theft.

If you see suspicious activity in parking areas or in neighborhoods, be sure to call New Braunfels Police by dialing 9-1-1 or call NBPD’s non-emergency number: (830) 221-4100.  

To establish a Neighborhood Crime Watch for your neighborhood, call (830) 221-4166 or log on to our Neighborhood Crime Watch page.

And if you find a Reminder Card on or in your vehicle, it’s because an officer noticed that you were making your vehicle an easy target for burglary.  Please partner with us to make your vehicle a harder target: Lock, Take, and Hide.