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San Antonio Police Offer H.E.A.T. Program To Prevent Auto Theft
by
Patrick Garry
The National Insurance Crime Bureau recently released its 2008 statistics that rank metropolitan areas for their auto theft rate. The good news is that last year was the fifth year in a row that auto theft decreased in the country as a whole. The bad news is that auto theft rates are rising in some Texas cities, including San Antonio. Laredo was actually #2 on the NICB list of auto theft “hot spots.”
“You’ve got a huge population of people who are addicted to drugs–methamphetamine and so forth–and like anything else, it feeds the habit. You have to have money to sustain the habit, and whether it’s auto theft or burglaries or petty thefts, all these things happen in large numbers and typically with a stolen car,” said Frank Scafidi, who is a spokesperson for the NICB.
There are many things that can be done to reduce the auto theft rate here, and a good San Antonio locksmith can evaluate your vehicle and make the appropriate recommendations. Theft prevention devices like smart keys, alarm systems, steering column locks, and anti-theft tire boots can go a long way toward keeping your vehicle safe from thieves. But making good decisions based on simple common sense is very important as well. Never leave your key in the ignition when you are not in the car, even for a couple of minutes, and make sure that you lock your doors 100% of the time. Park in well lit areas that have a good bit of foot traffic if possible, and don’t leave valuables in plain sight. If we all followed these simple common sense rules all of the time car theft would decrease significantly.
The police here in San Antonio have become very pro-active in trying to put a stop to vehicle theft, and the automotive security locksmiths in San Antonio applaud that effort.
They have introduced a program that motorists can enroll in that is called H.E.A.T. (which stands for “Help End Auto Theft”). HEAT enrolled motorists are given decals for their front and rear windshields. This gives officers permission to pull the car over without cause between the hours of 1:00 am and 5:00 am so they can make sure that the person driving the car has been authorized by the owner.
When San Antonio locksmiths, the local police, and car owners themselves all team up to do everything possible to prevent automobile theft, these statistics will definitely begin to drop. Following simple guidelines, working with law enforcement, and using the right theft prevention devices should keep your car safe and out of the hands of thieves.24/7 Locksmith Services is on call around the clock and ready to respond to locksmith emergencies anywhere in the greater San Antonio area. When you need a good locksmith in a hurry, give us a call at 1-866-450-0383.
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San Antonio Police Offer H.E.A.T. Program To Prevent Auto Theft
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