Vehicle thefts and break-ins have surged in the aftermath of the pandemic.
Residents residing in a West Village apartment complex express frustration over being frequent targets.
Felicia Hansel experienced the theft of her car from the parking garage of her apartment complex, Thirty377, situated within West Village, in January. Despite the presence of cameras and a gated entrance, her vehicle, along with many others, fell victim to thefts and break-ins.
“It is very frustrating,” remarked Felicia Hansel. “About 60 break-ins. [Thieves] love this place.”
This past weekend witnessed another wave of vehicle invasions.
Word quickly spread among neighbors online as images of vandalized cars and shattered windows circulated.
According to a spokesperson from the Dallas Police Department, their data indicates 8 break-ins and 3 car thefts since December 12, 2023, including one stolen vehicle over the recent weekend.
The spokesperson added that patrols and police visibility in the area have been heightened, urging people to report non-emergency crimes through the Dallas Police Online Reporting System.
While violent crime rates have declined, the Dallas police crime dashboard reveals that stolen vehicles remain the city’s most prevalent crime, with car break-ins ranking third behind simple assaults in the previous year and the first two months of 2024.
DPD data from 2023 shows 18,838 vehicles stolen and 13,517 reports of theft from motor vehicles, with downtown and Uptown being the most impacted areas.
Detectives informed Felicia that her 2021 Kia Forte was likely stolen due to the TikTok challenge prompting a surge in thefts of Kias and Hyundais by young individuals.
“It’s a crime. A crime no matter what,” expressed Felicia.
Her vehicle was eventually recovered, albeit with damage to the steering column and ignition. It is currently undergoing repairs. She, along with other residents, urges apartment management to bolster security measures and ensure the functionality of surveillance cameras.
“I feel unsafe and we’d for sure like to move from this place, although we love this place,” shared Felicia.
The apartment complex did not respond to messages from NBC 5.
Neighbors reveal they’ve engaged in two recent community meetings with management to address the issue.
