Contact
Mark Hanna
(512) 326-7616
For Immediate Release
November 24, 2105
Black Friday, A Good Time to Lock, Take and Hide
Shoppers won’t be the only people out during the upcoming Black Friday holiday
shopping spree this week. Criminals will be intent on burglarizing vehicles that may have been
left unlocked or simply have phones, I pads, gifts, and other valuables in plain view. Locking
your car, taking your keys and hiding your possessions has been shown to greatly reduce both
auto burglaries and thefts.
In order to help reduce auto theft and burglary, the Insurance Council of Texas has
donated more than 2,000 of the Lock, Take and Hide signs to police departments all over Texas
and the signs have been posted in parking lots at businesses across the state. “Our crime
statistics clearly show that drivers are getting the message and criminals are steering clear of
where these signs have been placed,” says Mesquite Police officer Jeff Goodfred. “Drivers are
taking the time to secure their vehicles and the brightly colored signs have gotten everyone’s
attention.”
Mesquite and more than two dozen other Texas cities have taken part in the Insurance
Council of Texas’ Lock, Take and Hide program. (See attached map) In the city of Mesquite,
police officers contacted 16 businesses that had the highest incidence of vehicle thefts and
burglaries. Each business was provided with Lock, Take and Hide signs. After four months, the
crime statistics for each area were compared to the previous year and showed the positive impact
of the signs. In locations where high-crime businesses installed the Lock, Take and Hide signs,
there was a reduction in these types of offenses. The businesses that turned down the offer of
installing the signs experienced a significant increase in crime.
“This simple reminder has prevented hundreds of auto thefts and burglaries across the
state, saved property, and helped hard working Texans avoid the hassle and headache of having
their auto stolen or broken into,” said Mark Hanna, a spokesman for the Insurance Council of
Texas (ICT). “We want Texans to be able to enjoy their holiday shopping or other activities
without having to return to a burglarized or stolen auto.”
ICT began the Lock, Take and Hide program in 2005 after receiving a request from the
Austin Police Department for the crime prevention signs. ICT has donated the signs to cities and
Automobile Burglary and Theft Prevention Authorities in every corner of the state.
The Insurance Council of Texas is the largest state insurance trade association in the
country consisting of approximately 500 property and casualty insurers writing business in
Texas. For more information click on www.insurancecouncil.org or follow us on Facebook at
ICT On Facebook and Twitter @InsCouncilTx and @VoiceForTexas for other up to date
news and information.
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