Amid concerns from city officials and residents, DPD has taken several steps to address the issue, including shifting resources to areas experiencing high theft rates, using technology to track stolen cars, and a cracking down on chop shops selling stolen parts.
Several factors contributed to the increase, according to Dallas Police Public Information Officer Kristin Lowman:
- The recent car parts shortage fueled a demand for stolen vehicles
- Rising car prices also made used vehicles more attractive targets.
- New technology that is designed to bypass security systems.
There already are signs there might be a turnaround this year. Early data for 2024 indicates that from January to June, reported thefts are down by about 7.25 percent compared to the same period in 2023.
Texas ranked 10th in the nation for auto thefts per capita in 2023, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau. Dallas had the fifth-highest number of auto thefts among U.S. cities that year.
The goal of the initiative is to improve response times, speed up stolen vehicle entry into NCIC, and lead to quicker recoveries.
The 2024 clearance rate for vehicle thefts so far is 5.92 percent. That is a slight improvement from 2023, when the department cleared 4.5 percent of auto thefts. The clearance rate measures the percentage of cases that have been disposed, through arrest or some other means.
The auto theft unit, consisting of more than a dozen people, is split into two squads: the REACT squad and Salvage squad. The REACT squad focuses on stolen rental cars and other motor vehicles while the salvage squad looks into chop shops and semi-trucks. Lowman would not provide an exact staffing figure for the unit.
The unit often is working against the clock to solve thefts. It is common for a lot of time to elapse between when a vehicle is stolen and when a theft is discovered. In addition, there often is a lack of suspect information that makes solving the cases difficult, according to Lowman.
Popular car models, particularly pickup trucks, are increasingly targeted by thieves in Texas. The Chevrolet 2018 full-size pickup has been among the top ten stolen vehicles for three consecutive years, according to data from the NICB’s annual Hot Wheels Report.
Other commonly stolen vehicles in Dallas, according to Lowman, include Chevrolet and GMC trucks and SUVs, Hyundais and Kias, and high-performance vehicles such as Camaros and Corvettes.
Ten things you can do to reduce the chances your car will be stolen
Dallas residents can take preventative measures, according to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles and Dallas police.
- Always lock doors and windows, even for quick errands.
- Never leave your car running, unattended: Cars are often stolen when someone leaves the vehicle running to warm it up.
- Park smart: Choose well-lit and busy areas. If available, park in a lot with an identified parking attendant.
- When parallel parking on a street, turn front wheels toward the curb to deter towing.
- When parking at home, park in a garage if you have one.
- Add extra security: Consider anti-theft devices like alarms, tracking devices or steering wheel locks.
- Track and recover: Services such as LoJack or OnStar that can track vehicles if stolen.
- Keep a record of your car’s details, including the VIN, on hand and not in the vehicle.
- Engrave a VIN on windows, wheels and tailgates — making it more difficult for thieves to sell.
- Hide valuables — lock them in the trunk or take them with you.
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