Always lock your vehicle and take your keys

Never leave your vehicle running and unattended

Approximately 20% of vehicles stolen have the keys in them

Approximately 50% of vehicles stolen have the doors unlocked

It is illegal and carries a $200.00 fine

Section 545.404 Texas Transportation Code

	An operator may not leave the vehicle unattended without
	stopping the engine;
	locking the ignition;
	removing the key from the ignition
	setting the parking brake effectively; and
	if standing on a grade, turning the front wheels to the curb or the side of the highway.

Criminals hate light

Silhouettes are almost impossible to identify

Be familiar with your surroundings

These items will often encourage auto thieves

Alarms (should have)

	Built in kill switch
	Lifetime warranty
	Buy from a reputable dealer
	Factory installed computer chips / keys

Vin Etching

Mylar Parts Stickers

P.O.P. Program

Satellite Tracking Systems                

Steering wheel / column devices

	The Club
	Lock Jaw

The Help End Auto Theft Program is a statewide vehicle registration program that helps law enforcement officers identify stolen vehicles.  It is designed to guard against night-time thefts and attempts to take vehicles across the border into Mexico.  H.E.A.T. provides window decals that authorize peace officers to stop the vehicle anywhere in Texas between 1:00 am and 5:00 am to determine if it is being driven by the owner or with the owner’s permission.

The Texas Department of Public Safety administers the program and maintains the H.E.A.T. database, which is accessible by 400 law enforcement agencies in Texas.

The Southeast Texas Auto Theft Task Force is a registering agency for H.E.A.T. and in January, 1999 the task force was selected to pilot the mail order H.E.A.T. program.  Within the first 60 days that this program was available, more than 1200 mail order registrations had been received by DPS.

Click here to register for H.E.A.T.