(Courtesy photo/SBPD)
NEWS Staff Report
The San Benito Police Department (SBPD) is asking the public’s assistance in apprehending a suspect in connection to possible vehicle thefts in the area.
According to a SBPD report, last week two different motor vehicle thefts were reported to the SBPD in which the vehicles were crossed into the Hidalgo/Pharr international border crossing by the same female depicted in the above photograph. The reports were made shortly after the vehicles crossed into Mexico.
The SBPD is asking for the public’s assistance in identifying this female and or providing information that may lead to her identification. Tipsters can report leads anonymously using the SBPD’s P3 Tips application located on the SBPD’s Facebook page.
The public is urged not to approach any individual who may be involved in these thefts if they encountered but to contact police at (956) 361-3880 for assistance.
According to the SBPD, there has been a trend of stolen vehicles that include Chevrolet, GMC, and Dodge/Jeep brand SUV’s and trucks in the region, and authorities remind the public to secure property and valuables on a daily basis as a means to prevent these incidents from occurring.
According to FBI statistics, in 2023, more than one million vehicles were stolen in the United States—a 25% increase in vehicle theft totals over the previous few years. Vehicle theft is a multi-billion-dollar crime, costing vehicle owners more than $8 billion each year.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), summers are the worst season for vehicle theft.
Also according to the NHTSA, a motor vehicle was stolen every 31 seconds in the United States in 2023. The NHTSA suggests to use common sense when parking and exiting a vehicle and not leave the key in or on the vehicle.
Other suggestions include to close and lock all windows and doors when parking, and to park in well-lit areas, if possible.
The NHTSA suggests to never leave valuables in a vehicle, especially if they can be seen from outside of the vehicle.
Thieves want vehicle parts and valuable items, too. Radios and wheel covers aren’t the only popular stolen vehicle parts thieves take. They want whatever sells, from the mandated labeled parts to those that aren’t. Some of the most popular vehicle parts or valuable items stolen from vehicles include doors, engines, transmissions, air bags, radios, GPS units, cell phones, iPads, laptops, and purses.
There are numerous antitheft systems and devices designed to make vehicles more difficult to steal or easier to trace and recover. Here are how some of them work: Audible and Visible Devices: These devices, such as a horn alarm, deter theft by bringing attention to an unauthorized attempt to steal or enter a vehicle. Visible devices create a visual threat/warning/deterrence, such as the use of steering-wheel locks, as well as theft-deterrent decals, flashing lights, and window etching.
Immobilizing-Type Devices: These prevent thieves from bypassing a vehicle’s ignition system and hot-wiring the vehicle. Some incorporate computer chips in ignition keys or disable the flow of electricity or fuel to the engine.
Vehicle Recovery Systems: These devices use electronic transmission technology that help law enforcement reveal the location of stolen vehicles—and possibly catch the thief in the act.
Victims of vehicle theft should follow these steps: Contact police immediately to file a stolen-vehicle report. Owners will need a copy of the police report and/or a case number to provide to the insurance company.
Owners may also be asked to provide the following information: License plate number; Make, model, and color of your vehicle; and Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and any identifying characteristics.
Contact the insurance company to file a claim within 24 hours of the vehicle being stolen.
If owners find the vehicle before authorities do, contact the police and the insurance company immediately.
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