Austin Police Issue Warning About Car Thefts At ACL Fest

AUSTIN, TEXAS — If you're among the thousands headed by car to the second weekend of the Austin Music Limits (ACL) music festival starting Friday, you might want to precautions to avoid being victimized by theft, police said.

The Austin Police Department on Thursday issued a warning to festival goers given the emergence of car thieves who perennially target parked vehicles surrounding the Zilker Park concerts venue as they look for items to steal. The warning comes days after police reported having received more than 20 calls for thefts of personal property on the concert grounds itself, primarily the stealing of cell phones.

On Thursday, police issued an update on those types of thefts. And it ain't pretty: Since the first weekend of ACL 2018, the APD has received 62 reports of thefts at the festival. A majority of these were handled as “thefts from person” cases, commonly referred to as pick pocketing.

"In almost all of the cases, the item stolen was a cell phone," police said in an updated press advisory. "Phones are being quickly powered down or placed into airplane mode to prevent any tracking (such as Find my iPhone or Google). We strongly encourage folks to record their device serial numbers and keep it somewhere else in case they need to reference it."

Like last weekend, thousands will descend on Zilker Park from Oct. 12-14 for the second week of ACL. To thieves, the music-loving throngs are something of a mother lode to indulge in their thieving ways.

"The Austin Police Department Auto Theft Interdiction Project would like to remind citizens that car thieves will be scouting parked vehicles looking for items to steal while individuals are enjoying the music events," police said in a press advisory. "They also break into keypad entry and keyless entry vehicles because owners are more likely to leave their ignition or valet key locked inside."

Related story: Austin Police Report Rash Of Pickpocket Thefts At ACL Festival

But with some forethought, concertgoers can avoid being victimized, police said: "Vehicular crime is a crime of opportunity and by taking away this opportunity, you can minimize the chances of becoming a victim. It only takes three minutes for your vehicle to be burglarized or stolen. It takes less than a minute to steal the car if a key is locked inside."

Every year, police said, thousands of individuals lose important identification documents, money, electronics, transportation, and expose themselves to ongoing identity theft and other types of crime that begin with vehicle burglary or auto theft.

"Even though Austin is one of the safest cities in America, these crimes do happen here," police remind those who might don rose-colored glassed if only figuratively speaking. " It’s an unfortunate reality that big events like ACL attract criminals from other areas. Becoming a victim of auto theft or vehicle burglary may be prevented by investing a little extra time and planning to make you and your car less of a target."

To safeguard vehicles against potential theft, police provided a list of tips:

• Lock your car and take your keys – especially if you have a keypad or keyless entry. These are big draws for car thieves because the odds are in their favor if there is a key locked inside. Don’t make it easy for a thief to drive away in your vehicle.
• Park in well-lit areas or attended lots – auto thieves do not like witnesses and will avoid these areas. Take a picture of where you parked to avoid confusion when you’re ready to go home.
• Don’t leave valuables in plain view (purses/wallets, cell phones, keys, laptops, electronics, money, jewelry garage door opener, etc.) Don’t make it profitable and worthwhile for thieves. Never leave your ID or personal documents inside unattended.
• If you must lock valuables inside, move them to the trunk, glovebox, or out of sight BEFORE you arrive and park. Thieves wait for and watch those who park, and they blend into the scene.
• Austin is a hands-free cell phone zone. Don’t talk or text while driving, unless it’s hands-free. Don’t drive distracted – It can wait. There are a lot of pedestrians, barricades, and narrowed lanes around the event. Watch for pedestrians and other vehicles.
• Once you’re walking, don’t walk distracted! Keep your eyes on others who may want to grab your purse or phone while you’re unaware of surroundings.
• Use crosswalks, obey traffic signals, and don’t cross over barricades. They exist entirely for your safety. Watch out for the cars on the road who may not be watching for you.

Police also previously issued tips on avoiding being victimized by theft on the actual concert grounds:

• Pay attention to your surroundings, especially in crowds.
• Keep your phone and ID/credit cards/cash in separate places on your person.
• Phones sticking out of back pockets or backpacks are not secure.
• Keep property in a defensible location (front pocket, stylish fanny pack) or leave it at home (yeah, right!).
• Record serial number information for your device and keep it separate.
• Notify on-site security/APD immediately for assistance.
• Utilize APD’s online reporting site, http://austintexas.gov/department/ireportaustincom or 311 (non-emergency to report a theft.
• If you see something, say something.

Police noted that no arrests have been made in connection to any ACL-related thefts. Anyone with information about these cases are asked to call Region IV Detectives at 512-974-8100. You can also submit tips by downloading APD’s mobile app, Austin PD, for free on iPhone and Android.

Don't let your enjoyment of ACL be ruined by theft, and heed advice of police. Have fun and soak in the soul-enriching music. But take precautions to avoid being victimized by theft. It only takes a few minutes of prep time.

The APD Auto Theft Interdiction Project programs are funded through the Texas Automobile Burglary and Theft Prevention Authority to reduce auto and burglary theft in the State of Texas.

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