Protect Your Vehicle from Auto Theft
Did you know that in a period of one year, 24 vehicles were stolen in North Richland Hills only because the keys
to the vehicle were readily available to the criminal? This not only impacts the vehicle owner and all our insurance
rates, but the safety of other motorists when the suspects are pursued by the police.
A new North Richland Hills ordinance will help protect your vehicle from auto theft. The ordinance prohibits motorist
from leaving their vehicle unattended with the keys in the ignition. The goal of this ordinance is to reduce the
number of vehicles that are stolen due to keys being left in the vehicle's ignition and unattended at convenience
stores, apartment complexes and other places.
The new ordinance does not apply to vehicles parked in a driveway at a single family home, although police strongly
discourage residents from warming vehicles in their driveways, as this greatly increases the chance that the car will be
stolen. There is also an exception for vehicles that have an antitheft locking device.
Other North Texas communities including Bedford, Fort Worth, Haltom City and Hurst have instituted similar rules.
The Texas Transportation Code also prohibits drivers from leaving a vehicle unattended with the keys in the ignition
on highways and public roads. In North Richland Hills, violators can be fined $200 to help discourage this bad habit.
Drivers are also encouraged to follow these steps to help prevent auto theft:
- Always lock your car. Don't hide an extra set of keys in your car.
- Close car windows and sunroof.
- Don't leave valuable items in plain sight making your vehicle more attractive to criminals. Use the glove compartment and trunk to keep things out of sight.
- At night, park in well-lit areas. Try to park in high traffic areas or attended lots. Thieves are less likely to strike where they can be seen.
- Park your car in the garage. Most cars are stolen off the street.
- Install a car alarm.
- Install a GPS-based automobile security tracking device.