Texas Communities Combat
Motor Vehicle Crime
Texas fights back against motor vehicle burglary and theft
(AUSTIN, Texas – June 9, 2022) Great news, Texans! Help is on the way to communities to combat auto burglars and thieves. These communities will now have additional resources and tools to fight and prevent motor vehicle crime.
The Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority (MVCPA) awarded almost $15 million in grants yesterday to police departments and sheriff’s offices across Texas. The funds support full-time specialized auto theft taskforces.
MVCPA also issued a new grant to add about 200 Automatic License Plate Reader (ALPR) cameras to combat crime. Law enforcement can use these cameras to investigate motor vehicle theft and burglary as well as fraud-related crime like registration and title fraud.
Communities apply for these funds allocated by the Texas Legislature to improve local response to motor vehicle crime.
“MVCPA is grateful to the Texas Legislature to increase their support for local law enforcement to have this opportunity to better combat motor vehicle theft,” said Laredo Assistant Chief of Police and MVCPA Board Chair Mike Rodriguez.
MVCPA awarded $13.6 million in Fiscal Year 2023 Taskforce grants to continue programs already operating if the communities. In Fiscal Year 2021, taskforces recovered over 11,000 stolen vehicles, cleared 16,000 motor vehicle theft cases, and arrested over 3,000 people.
Taskforce Grant Recipients
| City of Austin |
City of Laredo |
| City of Beaumont (Regional) |
Lubbock County (Regional) |
| City of Brownsville (Regional) |
City of Mansfield (Regional) |
| Burnet County (Regional) |
Montgomery County (Regional) |
| City of Corpus Christi |
City of Paris (Regional) |
| City of Dallas |
City of Pasadena |
| Dallas County (Regional) |
Potter County (Regional) |
| City of Eagle Pass |
City of San Antonio (Regional) |
| City of El Paso |
Smith County (Regional) |
| Galveston County (Regional) |
Tarrant County (Regional) |
| Harris County |
Travis County (Regional) |
| City of Houston (Regional) |
City of Victoria |
Motor Vehicle Crime Auxiliary Grant (MAG) recipients will receive funding to augment taskforce areas or expand to areas not currently served by taskforces. MAG grants allow communities to obtain ALPR cameras.
Dallas Police Lieutenant and MVCPA Board Member Julio Gonzalez said, “These grants increase the likelihood that car thieves will be caught sooner meaning that your stolen car is less likely to be used to commit other serious crimes such as human trafficking, robbery, and other violent crimes.”
MAG Grant Recipients
| City of Aransas Pass |
Goliad County |
City of Port Aransas |
| City of Balcones Heights |
Gonzales County |
City of Red Oak |
| City of Buda |
City of Grapevine |
City of Richland Hills |
| City of Blue Mound (pending) |
Gregg County |
City of Robstown |
| City of Cedar Hill |
City of La Porte |
City of Rockport |
| Chambers County |
City of League City |
City of Seabrook |
| Cherokee County |
City of Marshall |
City of Schulenburg (pending) |
| City of Cibolo |
City of Mesquite |
City of Temple |
| City of Conroe |
City of Midland |
City of Texarkana |
| City of Decatur |
City of Mission |
City of Tomball |
| City of Diboll (pending) |
City of Navasota |
Waller County |
| City of Duncanville |
City of Odessa |
Webb County |
| Fannin County |
City of Palmview |
City of White Settlement |
| Fayette County |
City of Pearland |
Wilson County |
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City of Penitas |
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MVCPA also awarded a $350,000 Public Education and Awareness Grant to the Insurance Council of Texas to develop a motor vehicle crime prevention media campaign. The last time MVCPA issued this grant in 2019, the “If You Like It, Lock It!” (Si Te Gusta, Cierralo) program realized over $5 million in public service advertising on television, radio, billboards and other media.
The Texas Legislature established MVCPA in 1991 to combat motor vehicle theft, burglary, and fraud-related motor vehicle crime in Texas. This is the 29th year the authority has issued funding.
For more information about how to protect yourself from motor vehicle crime, visit MVCPA at www.TxDMV.gov/about-us/MVCPA.
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Contact:
Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority
4000 Jackson Ave.
Austin, Texas 78731
(512) 465-1485
AskMVCPA@TxDMV.gov
Media@TxDMV.gov
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