Texas Fights Back Against Motor Vehicle Burglary and Theft

Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority

AUSTIN (News Release) - The Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority (MVCPA) awarded almost $15 million in grants yesterday to police departments and sheriff’s offices across Texas. The funds support full-time specialized auto theft taskforces.

MVCPA also issued a new grant to add about 200 Automatic License Plate Reader (ALPR) cameras to combat crime. Law enforcement can use these cameras to investigate motor vehicle theft and burglary as well as fraud-related crime like registration and title fraud.

Communities apply for these funds allocated by the Texas Legislature to improve local response to motor vehicle crime.

“MVCPA is grateful to the Texas Legislature to increase their support for local law enforcement to have this opportunity to better combat motor vehicle theft,” said Laredo Assistant Chief of Police and MVCPA Board Chair Mike Rodriguez.

MVCPA awarded $13.6 million in Fiscal Year 2023 Taskforce grants to continue programs already operating if the communities. In Fiscal Year 2021, taskforces recovered over 11,000 stolen vehicles, cleared 16,000 motor vehicle theft cases, and arrested over 3,000 people.

Taskforce Grant Recipients

City of Austin

City of Laredo

City of Beaumont (Regional)

Lubbock County (Regional)

City of Brownsville (Regional)

City of Mansfield (Regional)

Burnet County (Regional)

Montgomery County (Regional)

City of Corpus Christi

City of Paris (Regional)

City of Dallas

City of Pasadena

Dallas County (Regional)

Potter County (Regional)

City of Eagle Pass

City of San Antonio (Regional)

City of El Paso

Smith County (Regional)

Galveston County (Regional)

Tarrant County (Regional)

Harris County

Travis County (Regional)

City of Houston (Regional)

City of Victoria

Motor Vehicle Crime Auxiliary Grant (MAG) recipients will receive funding to augment taskforce areas or expand to areas not currently served by taskforces. MAG grants allow communities to obtain ALPR cameras.

Dallas Police Lieutenant and MVCPA Board Member Julio Gonzalez said, “These grants increase the likelihood that car thieves will be caught sooner meaning that your stolen car is less likely to be used to commit other serious crimes such as human trafficking, robbery, and other violent crimes.”

MAG Grant Recipients

City of Aransas Pass

Goliad County

City of Port Aransas

City of Balcones Heights

Gonzales County

City of Red Oak

City of Buda

City of Grapevine

City of Richland Hills

City of Blue Mound (pending)

Gregg County

City of Robstown

City of Cedar Hill

City of La Porte

City of Rockport

Chambers County

City of League City

City of Seabrook

Cherokee County

City of Marshall

City of Schulenburg (pending)

City of Cibolo

City of Mesquite

City of Temple

City of Conroe

City of Midland

City of Texarkana

City of Decatur

City of Mission

City of Tomball

City of Diboll (pending)

City of Navasota

Waller County

City of Duncanville

City of Odessa

Webb County

Fannin County

City of Palmview

City of White Settlement

Fayette County

City of Pearland

Wilson County

City of Penitas

MVCPA also awarded a $350,000 Public Education and Awareness Grant to the Insurance Council of Texas to develop a motor vehicle crime prevention media campaign. The last time MVCPA issued this grant in 2019, the “If You Like It, Lock It!” (Si Te Gusta, Cierralo) program realized over $5 million in public service advertising on television, radio, billboards and other media.

The Texas Legislature established MVCPA in 1991 to combat motor vehicle theft, burglary, and fraud-related motor vehicle crime in Texas. This is the 29th year the authority has issued funding.

For more information about how to protect yourself from motor vehicle crime, visit MVCPA at www.TxDMV.gov/about-us/MVCPA.