AUSTIN -- Thousands of cars are stolen in Central Texas every year.
Below is a list of counties in the area with the number of auto thefts from 2016 and 2017:
- Williamson County: 2016 - 307 | 2017 - 333
- Travis County: 2016 - 2,457 | 2017 - 2,409
- Hays County: 2016 - 378 | 2017 - 319
- Bastrop County: 2016 - 149 | 2017 - 106
- Burnet County: 2016 - 57 | 2017 - 47
- Blanco County: 2016 - 9 | 2017 - 12
- Caldwell County: 2016 - 31 | 2017 - 50
- Llano County: 2016 - 2 | 2017 - 7
Austin police data shows the most frequently stolen vehicles are: Honda Accords, Honda Civics, and trucks made by Ford, Chevrolet or GMC.
Some thieves have found ways to get around newer vehicles with keyless fobs and push-to-start engines. The National Insurance Crime Bureau says criminals use “scanner boxes” that allow thieves to get into the vehicle.
While it sounds like there’s nothing a car owner can do to stay safe, practicing the common tips from police can make a big difference.
In the case of theft, be sure to take pictures, call police, file a report and call your insurance company.