Reporting Vandalism

REPORTING VANDALISM

TEXAS

Report instances of vandalism to the police. If you see vandalism of a property taking place, please call 911 to report it. Make note of any vehicles at the scene, the make, color and license plate number, if possible, before calling.

Vandalism hurts neighborhoods. Copper thieves are becoming commonplace in our neighborhoods. Vacant properties are favorite targets. When thieves spot vacant houses with stickers in the window or For Sale signs in the yard with "FORECLOSURE" riders attached, they see them as easy marks. The best way to stop these thieves is to report them.

Common items of interest. Kitchen appliances such as the range are commonly stolen, as are air conditioning components. Thieves often cut the connections and carry the item off to the back of a pickup truck or van. They may open the garage door and back the truck into the garage. Please note that there are normally NO REPAIRS allowed on foreclosed properties prior to the new buyer moving in, so if you know a property is a vacant foreclosure, and you see items being removed, get the license plate number and call it in. It is unusual for properties to be fixed up prior to sale, but occasionally it happens. This would involve painting and replacing carpet or flooring. This is usually done by professional contractors who would have vehicles marked with their business logo, and they would be working during normal business hours -- not suspiciously at night, evening, or early morning before sunrise.

Why should you care? A rise in crime statistics hurts neighborhood property values. In addition, properties that have been vandalized lose their value and may cause the property to remain vacant for a longer period. This results in declining neighborhoods.

Please NOTE: Do NOT do anything that may be dangerous to yourself or others. Do not confront thieves. However, they may be chased away once they are aware that you are watching them. Children should NOT be permitted to play on these properties at any time. A notice in the window or a sign in the yard will allow you to contact someone in case you notice vandelism or a door left open.