Car crime on the rise in Lockhart
By LPR Staff
Editor/POST-REGISTER
Recent reports from the Lockhart Police Department indicate a spike in “car crimes,” including burglaries and auto theft, in the last several months.
According to information released by the Lockhart Police Department on Wednesday morning, investigators are currently mired down with a rash of car burglaries, numb
ering more than 20 in the last four months time. In addition, they are investigating four car thefts in the last 30 days.
The common thread that exists in these crimes, according to Lockhart Police Department Captain John Roescher, the public information officer for the department, is the concept of “opportunity.”
“In all of these cases, the vehicles were left unlocked with valuables clearly visible,” he said. “And in all four of the thefts, the vehicles were unlocked and the keys were inside.”
Roescher said while there has been some property recovery, occasionally in conjunction with the report of another theft, there has been no “big break” in the cases. Police are unsure whether the incidents are related, or whether the rise is simply a matter of convenience.
“We need to remind people to lock their cars, and to take their valuables inside,” said LPD Chief Mike Lummus. “The way these things have happened… citizens don’t need to make it any easier for criminals than they have to.”
Neither Lummus nor Roescher could point to one particular area or time of day when the burglaries have occurred, nor were they willing to name any suspects. Roescher said some leads were available, but the most important thing, in his opinion, is curtailing the problem before it gets worse.
“We’re still investigating these incidents, and we will continue to investigate,” he said. “But we do need the public’s help. We need them to make sure that they are taking steps to protect themselves and their property.”
Those protection efforts include securing one’s vehicle and either hiding or removing any valuables. Roescher said a number of small items, including laptops, MP3 players and cell phones had been left in plain view in some of the burglarized vehicles.
In addition, drivers should park their cars, when possible, in well-lit areas, and never leave their keys in their vehicles.
Anyone with information about these incidents is encouraged to contact the Lockhart Police Department at (512) 398-4401.
This is really too bad. I remember when we first came to Lockhart, seeing vehicles at the Post Office with the engine running while their owners went in and checked their mail. To a city girl, that was an act of either total trust in your neighbors or great naivete. Then we went to Sirloin Stockade and our friend left her purse at the table. WHAT? “Oh, it’s okay,” she said. “This is not L.A.”
A couple weeks later, my daughter went to HEB and forgot her wallet in the shopping cart (but thank God she remembered to put the new baby in the car). Within the week it was returned to her via mail, anonymously, with all credit cards and cash still in it. That was one of the factors that told us this was a GOOD place to live.
I had a store on the Square for three years and never had any vandalism or theft. Recently we walked with our young granddaughters over to The Citrus Peel and Simple Sewing Solutions (where my store was) to do some shopping after the Main St. Farmer’s Market. We were appalled to see shattered pottery and broken glass all along the street, clearly from punks without feelings for the rights of others.
Lockhart is still a great place to live. I still trust that most people are good-hearted. But I do take my purse at the Stockade and always lock my car. Some things are not trust, just common sense.