Texas Communities Combat Motor Vehicle Crime

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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
    City of Penitas  

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.

Contact:
Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority                                           
4000 Jackson Ave.
Austin, Texas 78731
(512) 465-1485
AskMVCPA@TxDMV.gov  
Media@TxDMV.gov

Source: News and Information
Texas Communities Combat Motor Vehicle Crime

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