>> Alright, look at a map of Houston and you will be able to
Houston and you will be able to
spot where vehicles are more
likely to be according to the
Houston police, it’s the area
of the Gulf Freeway near
Edgebrook. Then inside the loop
on Richmond. >> You can even happened just
>> You can even happened just
outside of your home, a parking
garage or in front of a store.
But the agency’s in place to
investigate those that say.
>> They need one more thing. They need money. KPRC, 2
They need money. KPRC, 2
investigates. Mario Diaz
uncovers the Motor Vehicle Task
Force has been shortchanged for
years. Now and wind impacts ensure drivers just like you.
ensure drivers just like you.
>> To be woken up at 4 in the
morning with 2 officers was
shocking. A seemingly normal night disrupted by a knock.
night disrupted by a knock.
>> I’m Mallory Olson’s door.
You went to bed with the car
where in the garage and woke up with a car not in the garage
with a car not in the garage
stolen. It doesn’t get more
personal than that. You
definitely feel violated.
My car was stolen in 2017, a
criminal walked into May’s Middleton’s home while his
Middleton’s home while his
pregnant wife was sleeping.
Snatching her car keys. Then
the family ride. It’s
terrifying. We’ve caught, you
know, 15 year-olds and we’ve
caught 55 year-old. We went for a drive with Tracy Hicks, a
a drive with Tracy Hicks, a
sergeant in the Houston Police
Department’s. I don’t. That’s
crime task force. We’ve got to
harden our targets for years. Police say the Houston area has
Police say the Houston area has
been consistently one of the
worst in the nation for vehicle
thefts. HPD records show the
city is on pace to surpass last year’s total of 16,085 crooks.
year’s total of 16,085 crooks.
A lot of times are looking for
the quick and easy and fast.
But investigators say solving
those crimes isn’t always quick
and easy. However, a simple fix to funding could help. It was
to funding could help. It was
one dollar for every policy
per year. Starting in 1991.
>> Goes and county Lieutenant Tommy Hanson says in 1991 1
Tommy Hanson says in 1991 1
whole dollar from every Texans
car insurance policy was
earmarked for the motor
vehicles. Crime prevention
authorities to fund the statewide task force. Think
statewide task force. Think
about the millions of drivers
in Texas means millions of
dollars. That is until the pool
of money. When we lost
dedicated fund about $0.25 on
the dollar. >> We started going elsewhere
>> We started going elsewhere
in state government. So about a
decade ago, Austin voted to increase it to $2. Then another
increase it to $2. Then another
hike in 2019 to $4. But we
never got the full doll.
>> Some are near or around 20
or 21. 21 and a half million
dollars. Instead we’re getting
14 million dollars. >> Despite the fact that task
>> Despite the fact that task
force is still getting a large
chunk of change officers like
Hixon Hanson, we remain frustrated. They say more money
frustrated. They say more money
will be put to good use given
the number of stolen cars and
trucks in our area. What is
the solution? Funding is all
about funding. Where does it
lie? The Legislature but car
theft victim as Middleton has
a plan.
>> It turns out he is the state
Sen elect for parts of
Galveston, Brazoria and Harris
counties. >> I want to add about
>> I want to add about
6 million more to get us to
22 million in funding. Senator,
you’re fighting to get
6 million more dollars. What would that mean in terms of
would that mean in terms of
a solution for this? It’s going
to be more task force him or
investigators is what it means.
The task force consists of over
200.
>> 35 investigators, but millions more could increase
millions more could increase
that number and provide more
resources. I would hope in
there putting as much. >> As they can towards
>> As they can towards
preventing this kind of thing
because it’s a lot of time.
Energy money that gets wasted.
When you lose a car. Another
reason why officials want to see more funding insurance
see more funding insurance
rates. Mays and others telling
KPRC 2 investigates.
>> A decrease in deaths will
help prevent automobile
insurance rates from going up. Now, you might be asking
Now, you might be asking
yourself whether your car is
a target right now in the
investigate section of click 2
Houston dot Com. We have a list of the top 10 vehicles stolen