Local police increase patrols as number of vehicle burglaries rise
The Fort Worth Police Department has taken extra precautions and enlisted the help of community associations as the number of car burglaries has jumped in the past year, especially this October.
By Jill Meninger
Staff Reporter

Fort Worth Police say they have increased patrol of the TCU area and taken other safety measures after an increase in car burglaries.

According to information provided by the police department, 34 cars were burglarized in October, the most for any month so far this year. The area reported 204 car burglaries this year — one more than was reported the previous two years combined.

Berry Street, Merida Avenue and University Drive are the streets to have been hit the most with car burglaries in October, police records show.

In addition to more patrols, the police department has recruited help from neighborhood associations and have also put citizen alert warning handouts on car windshields.

Jamie Johnson, a Fort Worth police officer, said the offenses are occurring at all times of the day and night, although he said they have noticeably picked up during the evenings.

He said police have no suspects as yet. But based on previous incidents and the time of day the offenses occur, he said crimes are likely being committed by high school students.

He said the majority of the cars that have been burglarized were owned by students.

Johnson said he attributes the increase in car burglaries to students who are in a rush and leave personal items — like purses, CD players and wallets — in their vehicles.

“You will be amazed at what people leave open in their cars,” Johnson said.

Adam Marr, a freshman business major, said he learned his lesson after he left his wallet on his dashboard when he was staying at a friend’s house on Worth Hills Drive last month.

Even though his car was locked when he parked it, he came back to find his driver’s side window shattered and his wallet missing.

Marr said after his car was broken into, he was afraid to park anywhere for a few days.
“I make sure nothing is visible and I am more cautious now,” Marr said.

Johnson said car burglary has become a trendy crime because it was dropped from a felony charge to a less severe misdemeanor in 1997.

He said the police department began a campaign notifying people to not leave their personal valuables in their cars. Johnson said if he sees a car that has things out in the open, he will put the handout under the car’s windshield.

Junior marketing major Chris Amador said his amplifier, CD player and subwoofers were stolen out of his locked car in September at the Reserve at Oak Hill apartment complex.

Now he says he takes his CD player’s detachable face off when he parks his car.

“Now I don’t leave anything in sight,” Amador said.

Johnson advises car owners to lock their cars, not to leave anything valuable in clear view and to get their windows tinted.

Jill Meninger