Austin Property Crime: Protecting Your Home & Vehicle
With a property crime rate of 33.12 per 1,000 residents — 62% above the Texas average — Austin's property crime challenge is real. Here's what you need to know and how to protect yourself.
The Property Crime Landscape in Austin
Property crime is Austin's most significant crime challenge. With 32,911 property crimes annually across a population of 993,588, the property crime rate of 33.12 per 1,000 gives any Austin resident roughly a 1 in 30 chance of being a victim in a given year. That's not a reason to panic, but it's a reason to pay attention.
For context, this rate is 62% higher than the Texas state average (20.4 per 1,000) and significantly above the national average. The three pillars of Austin's property crime are theft/larceny (22,526), motor vehicle theft (5,926), and burglary (4,459).
🚗 Motor Vehicle Theft: Austin's Standout Problem
With 5,926 vehicles stolen per year — roughly 16 cars per day — Austin has one of the highest motor vehicle theft rates in the nation. The 1 in 168 chance of having your car stolen is a number that should concern every vehicle owner.
How to Protect Your Vehicle
Never leave keys in the car
Sounds obvious, but a surprising number of Austin thefts involve keys left in the ignition or push-start fobs left in the vehicle.
Park in well-lit, visible areas
Thieves prefer cover. Parking under a streetlight or in a well-trafficked area significantly reduces your risk.
Remove ALL valuables — even loose change
A bag, sunglasses, or even a charging cable visible through the window invites a smash-and-grab. Trunk or take it.
Use a steering wheel lock or kill switch
Physical deterrents work. A visible Club-style lock makes a thief choose an easier target. Aftermarket kill switches add another layer.
Install a GPS tracker (Apple AirTag, etc.)
A hidden tracker won't prevent theft but dramatically increases recovery chances. Hide one in a non-obvious location.
🏠 Burglary Prevention
Austin records 4,459 burglaries per year — about 12 per day. Burglary is a crime of opportunity: thieves look for easy targets and avoid complications. Making your home slightly harder to break into than the next one is often enough.
Home Security Essentials
Visible security cameras
Even fake/dummy cameras deter — real ones help solve crimes
Deadbolt locks on all exterior doors
Many Austin break-ins use simple forced entry through weak locks
Motion-activated exterior lighting
Lights that trigger on movement around entries and driveways
Smart doorbell (Ring, Nest, etc.)
See who's at your door remotely; records visitors and porch activity
Timed lights and smart home presence
Make it look like someone's home even when you're away
Secure sliding doors and windows
Add secondary locks or dowel rods to sliding glass doors
📦 Theft & Package Theft
Theft is Austin's most common crime by a wide margin, with 22,526 incidents per year. A significant and growing portion is package theft ("porch piracy"), which has exploded alongside the growth of online shopping.
- Use Amazon Locker or secure pickup points for high-value deliveries
- Require signatures for expensive packages
- Install a package lockbox on your porch — they're relatively cheap and highly effective
- Use delivery instructions to have packages left in a non-visible location
- Set up crime alerts — if porch piracy is active on your block, you'll know to take extra precautions
Know Your Neighborhood's Risk Level
Property crime rates vary dramatically across Austin. Circle C Ranch and Tarrytown have property crime rates well below the city average, while Downtown and parts of East Austin exceed it significantly.
Use the Austin crime map to check your specific address. Filter by "Burglary" and "Vehicle Theft" to see the property crime picture for your immediate area. And sign up for free crime alerts to get notified when property crimes happen near you — knowing about a burglary spree on your block lets you take immediate precautions.
Get Property Crime Alerts for Your Address
Know when burglaries, vehicle thefts, and other property crimes happen near you.