Local police cracking down on thefts in West Texas

MIDLAND/ODESSA, TX. (NEXSTAR) — Just about just about every night time you see reports of thefts in our newscasts. They come about all much too usually throughout West Texas.

Corporal Steve Lesueur with the Odessa Police Division claims, “Starting all-around Thanksgiving, and into the New Calendar year, it is not unusual for us to encounter a increase in thefts.”

Both Odessa and Midland Police Departments say they are executing every thing they can to set a cease to these crimes.

Deputy Main Greg McCright with the Midland Law enforcement Division says, “Our home division in Texas this yr came up with a an undercover operation in which they hit some of the even larger merchants that are hit far more often on thefts and shoplifting.”

The target of the undercover operations is to capture these robbers in the act. Detectives from the two Midland and Odessa say they officers reply to shop thefts often.

In Odessa, Corporal Lesueur says these thefts occur every single working day.

Studies from OPD say in 2020, there were a total of 2,200 thefts, and in 2021, there were being 1,970 thefts. So significantly in 2022, they’ve viewed a lot more than 100.

“The thefts have remained all-around 2000 for the past several years.” mentioned Cpl. Lesueur.

Midland Police stories condition its larceny or theft figures, put together with motor car thefts in 2021 was all over 2,181. In 2020 that quantity was a lot higher– totaling 2,794 thefts.

Deputy Chief McCright claims general, thefts in Midland have went down substantially in recent several years.

“2021 over-all our residence thefts went down nicely in excess of 20%, so crack down each and every one particular of our classes from burglaries to theft, motor motor vehicle theft, all of those people went down 20% or a lot more.” reported Deputy Chief McCright.

A big vast majority of these thefts are automobile crack ins and stolen cars and trucks.

“Leaving your auto folks have guns and a good deal of periods they carry them in their cars and trucks, so all those become concentrate on to possibility for these crooks.” claimed Deputy Chief McCright.

Law enforcement have advice for all drivers.

“There are a ton of get the job done automobiles in Texas, so there’s expensive machines in individuals, particular artifacts in there as properly, so you have a large amount of criminals likely right after those issues because they can pawn those people and get a good amount of money of dollars and then move on to the following car.” said Deputy Main McCright.

“It’s not unusual for these leaves to go from Odessa to a nearby metropolis, and vice versa, there is continue to a auto below and then go to a nearby metropolis and dedicate quite a few other vehicle burglary thefts.” said Cpl. Lesueur. “Sometimes it is just own files, often are there seeking for his keys, so look for a spare crucial to the house so they can burglarized the residence at a afterwards day, garage doorway openers, they are searching for points like that.”

Law enforcement have a warning for drivers for the duration of the winter months.

“It’s cold out there nowadays and we still obtained a handful of a lot more cold months for guaranteed over the calendar year, persons leaving their cars unlocked when they warm up their autos is a different way that we have individuals thieving individuals vehicles.” stated Deputy Chief McCright.

“So for the past various a long time we have experienced regularly a few dozen stolen automobiles per thirty day period, and we certainly encounter an maximize throughout the winter season months” said Cpl. Lesueur.

Each law enforcement departments say push to start off keys typically left in cars and trucks. Building it simple for burglars to take off.

“It’s not just individuals go up and very hot wire, robbers are lazy, they are hunting for an quick way in, so that’s all they do they go close to and check out automobiles the door handles to see if autos are still left unlocked.” mentioned Cpl. Lesueur. “So in the point out of Texas it’s unlawful to have a remote get started, it is illegal to go away the important in the ignition, which is if the automobile is left unattended.”

But of program there are usually ways to deter these criminals, such as surveillance cameras, movement censored lighting and even possessing a pet.

“Most of our residence crimes are crimes of advantage if you make your house tough to split into, if you make your auto difficult to crack in.” mentioned Cpl. Lesueur.

“Have a fantastic lighting close to your property, maintaining your doorways locked, retaining your car is locked, these are the matters that protect against these styles of crimes from happening additional.” mentioned Deputy Main McCright.