According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, thieves committed 214,294 acts of vehicle burglary and stole 65,671 vehicles in Texas last year. Dallas police officers warn that these crimes can escalate during the holiday season as drivers are out buying gifts. With several popular, destination shopping centers around Preston Hollow, it’s probably a good time to review these tips recently posted by the Dallas Police Department:
- remove belongings from view if you leave them in your vehicle
- lock your car and never leave keys inside your unlocked vehicle
- park in areas that are well-lit, near surveillance cameras (if available), and near heavy foot and vehicle traffic
- remember that anything left inside your vehicle can be valuable to a thief
“When vehicles are left unlocked and unattended, drivers are inviting thieves to walk away with everything they see inside,” Dallas police media relations officers write. “This includes gifts, purses, wallets, packages, electronics, suitcases, garage door openers, keys, and personal information.”
Although the recently modified online police report database now only reveals a limited amount of information to the public, a look at the latest crime reports indicates the quick work thieves have made in nearby parking lots:
- On Saturday, Nov. 29, a car window was smashed and property was stolen from a vehicle parked at NorthPark Center between 5 and 6 p.m.
- The window was smashed and property was stolen from a car parked at the Museum of Biblical Art between 7 and 9:37 p.m. on Nov. 29.
- Property was also stolen from an unlocked car parked at Central Forest shopping center on Nov. 29, between 6:30 and 7:45 p.m.
- On Nov. 30 a thief smashed a window and stole property from a car parked in the Preston Forest shopping center between 6 and 6:50 p.m.
- Between 7 and 7:50 p.m. on Nov. 30, a car window was smashed and property was stolen from a car parked at The Hockaday School
