Auto Theft

As part of its continuing effort to reduce auto thefts, the Austin Police Department Auto Theft Interdiction Project has established a 24-hour hotline for residents to use to report suspicious activity. The hotline number is 974-5096. Information received pertaining to activity outside the Department's jurisdiction will be forwarded to the appropriate agencies.

State-of-the-art crime analysis, crime prevention techniques and educational strategies provide APD with a proactive auto theft program. The result is a program in which procedures have been streamlined to effectively investigate, identify, arrest and file charges against auto thieves and organized elements in auto theft crime.

Beginning September 1, 2007, the ATPA’s mission expanded to include auto burglary and theft prevention, as well as to provide programs to educate automobile owners on how to prevent auto burglary and theft. Additionally, the bill renamed the ATPA to the Automobile Burglary and Theft Prevention Authority (ABTPA).

Auto Theft Tip Line

The number may be used to report auto thefts, suspicious buying or selling of auto parts, the location of "chop shops," or other information related to stolen vehicles, boats, construction equipment, farm equipment and trailers. All information received will be handled in confidence and callers may remain anonymous.

Victims of auto theft should still call 9-1-1 to report the crime; the new hotline is to report suspicious activity only.