Fort Bend County Precinct 1 Constable Chad Norvell said Friday, Aug. 21, that residents should layer visible security on their vehicles as auto theft reports in his precinct have nearly doubled year-to-date compared to the same period in 2025.
"Even what I do on my own truck, I have an F-250. I know they're commonly stolen, so I use an old-school club on the steering wheel," Norvell told KPRC 2. "It's just a device that is visible, something they can see."
The warning comes as the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands metro area recorded 23,659 vehicle thefts in 2025, ranking it fourth in the nation behind only Los Angeles, New York and Chicago, according to data the National Insurance Crime Bureau released March 18.
Local incidents pile up
On July 31, deputies arrested Leonard Baker at a Target on Lake Woodlands Drive after he allegedly burglarized a vehicle at the YMCA at 6100 Shadowbend Place in The Woodlands. Baker is suspected in vehicle burglaries across six states.
In March 2025, the Montgomery County Regional Auto Theft Task Force assisted the Woodlands Patrol Division after a suspicious vehicle was found moving between two secured parking garages off Riva Row. Two suspects were arrested carrying professional key programming devices used to steal cars, according to the sheriff's office.
On Tuesday, Aug. 18, the task force also recovered a stolen 2017 Toyota Tacoma taken from an H-E-B in the Spring area near the 3500 block of Rayford Road and arrested two Houston suspects, according to the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office. The task force, which patrols The Woodlands and surrounding areas, is partially funded by the Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority.
Thefts declining nationally, but the metro remains a hotspot
Nationally, vehicle thefts fell 23% in 2025 to 659,880, the lowest level in several decades, following a 17% drop in 2024. A vehicle was still stolen somewhere in the country approximately every 48 seconds in 2025.
The Houston metro's numbers have also improved. The area recorded 35,119 thefts in 2023 compared to 23,659 in 2025, a decline of roughly 33% over two years, according to Insurance.com's analysis of NICB data. Texas overall recorded 75,269 vehicle thefts in 2025, second only to California.
Two GMC trucks were stolen less than an hour apart from driveways in the Katy area on Aug. 11, with surveillance video suggesting the same crew hit both homes.
Pickup trucks are prime targets
Norvell said high-end pickups, including GMC models, Ford F-150s and F-250s, are common targets because thieves can steal them in minutes. The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 ranked fourth and the Ford F-150 ranked seventh on the NICB's list of the 10 most-stolen vehicles nationwide in 2025.
How to protect your vehicle
The NICB and local law enforcement recommend layering security rather than relying on factory alarms alone:
- Use a visible steering wheel lock (available for less than $30)
- Install an aftermarket GPS tracker or AirTag
- Park in well-lit areas
- Close windows and lock doors every time
- Never leave a vehicle running unattended
- Consider a kill switch for high-value trucks
Residents with information about vehicle theft in The Woodlands area can contact the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office at 936-760-5800, option 3, or Multi-County Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-392-STOP (7867).
