Someone hot-wired the truck.

The Victim: Margaret Carroll
The Crime: Automobile theft
Date: Saturday-Sunday, Jan. 5-6
Time: Between 7 p.m. and 10 a.m.
Location: 6700 block of Prestonshire

Margaret Carroll loves hitting the trail on her horses. The LBJ National Grasslands in East Texas is a popular destination, and quite often she loaded up her horse trailer, cranked up her 2003 diesel Ford F250 and made the trip for a couple days of relaxation riding in the saddle and taking in the beautiful atmosphere. The forest and grasslands offer sprawling trails for hikers and horse riders.

“It’s beautiful, you would not know you’re in Texas,” Carroll says of her horseback excursions there.

Moving her horses, however, became a bit difficult after a thief stole that Ford from the front driveway of her Preston Hollow East home. Attempts to find it have so far been fruitless. She says there normally is very little crime in the area, but that she has learned criminals target these types of trucks for drug transport.

“I’ve done a lot research now and these Ford trucks from those few years are hot items,” she says.

Carroll says the thief disregarded two more-expensive cars — a Lexus and Buick Enclave. In recent days, she purchased a new truck and will soon be back in the saddle.

Lt. Andrew Harvey of the Dallas Police North Central Patrol Division says auto theft is big business, and thieves steal cars and trucks primarily to strip them to sell for individual parts.

“Alarms and other anti-theft systems do help, but the best thieves can get around them if they really want your car. On newer models, systems such as OnStar do help recover stolen vehicles.”

Harvey encourages residents to keep vehicles in a well-lit area, secure them, and call 911 if you see any suspicious activity in your neighborhood.

| Crime numbers |

 7000

Block of Janmar Drive where a thief stole $10,000 worth of copper wiring from the walls and attic of a residence Jan. 28

 2:30

Time of afternoon when a man called Wingates Quality Watches about a shipping fee, became irate and said, “You are lucky I’m not there or I would grab you by your throat,” to the employee

 02.02

Date when a thief broke into an automobile in a church parking lot and stole an iPhone 4 and a Springfield .45 caliber pistol with five rounds in the magazine