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Wednesday, December 24, 1997

Anti-theft group urges protection for valuables in light of burglary numbers

By PEGGY FIKAC / Associated Press Writer

AUSTIN (AP) -- Want to protect those Christmas presents? The Texas Action Council on Theft suggests security labels and window decals that warn would-be thieves that a house won't be easy pickings.

"That's the first line of defense," Charity Judah of the Texas Action Council on Theft said Tuesday.

"Most likely, they'll move to the house next door with no security system or warning sign. They realize their chances of being apprehended are much less if they go to a house that has no warning sign whatsoever," she said.

The state burglary rate decreased 3.5 percent in the first six months of this year, compared with January through June of 1996, according to Texas Department of Public Safety figures.

But even though some large metropolitan cities saw significant burglary reductions, the crime report showed some other cities with dramatic increases in burglaries, the council noted.

It said the burglary rate in Laredo rose 31 percent, to 953; in Galveston, it went up 27 percent to 595; in Abilene, up 17 percent to 673; in Corpus Christi, a 14 percent increase brought the figure to 2,027; and in Austin, there was an 11 percent increase to 3,825.

"It would appear that burglars have moved from the larger cities in Texas to smaller communities. Citizen apathy is one of the most common reasons thieves are having such success in some Texas towns," Ms. Judah said.

Care is especially warranted during the holidays, she said.

"This is not the time of year to be careless about protecting your valuable property. Thieves are on the prowl for expensive items which are intended for Christmas gifts."

In addition to possibly foiling burglars, Texans might net some insurance savings if they mark their property. State Insurance Commissioner Elton Bomer this year approved an optional 5 percent discount for homeowners who permanently mark their personal property.

Homeowners who wish to qualify for a discount -- if offered by their insurance company -- must permanently mark specific valuables or photograph items such as jewelry that are hard to mark.

The Texas Department of Insurance said participating insurers, along with police and sheriff's departments, have qualified inspectors and offer etching devices, permanent labels or other permanent identification markings. Homeowners can obtain an inspector's report to show they complied with the program.

Ms. Judah said people also can contact the Texas Action Council on Theft to purchase identifying labels and window decals.

The labels displaying the driver's license number of the property owner not only are hard to remove, but if stripped off leave an identifying print that can be read with ultraviolet light, she said.

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(The toll-free telephone number for the Texas Action Council on Theft is 1-800-286-9801.)