Humble resident Luciano Lopez, 43, didn't know it, but when his car was stolen the night of Sunday, Nov. 8, the heist served as a reminder for Humble Police that the seasonal spike in auto thefts and burglaries has descended upon the area.
Humble Police Lt. Jay Wrobliske said thieves see the holiday season as an opportunity, and strike most often during November and December.
“The mall, the apartments, the shopping centers, all of those areas are going to get hit,” Wrobliske said.
Lopez locked up his late 1990's model Lincoln Town Car as usual outside his apartment at 424 S. Bender on Sunday night. When he awoke Monday morning, it had disappeared.
AAA Texas already ranks the greater Houston metropolitan area No. 1 for vehicle thefts in the state, and Wrobliske said the holiday season is when officers see the bulk of the figures owing to that ranking.
In 2008, AAA Texas reported that the top-five most-stolen vehicles in Texas were the 2004 Dodge Ram pickup, 1994 Chevrolet full-size C/K 1500 pickup, the Ford F150 pickup, the Honda Accord and the Honda Civic - in that order.
Lopez didn't own a “hot” model, doesn't live in an area of high vehicle theft rate, and didn't leave his car unlocked.
But many locals like him will still fall victim to vehicle theft or burglary before the year's end.
Wrobliske said vehicle thefts and burglaries can chalked up to chance and opportunity for the most part, but he said there are still little things that the public can do to help one another.
Most importantly, he reminds everyone to park in well-lit places when out shopping or when visiting friends and relatives. Making sure to lock the vehicle and remove any items of value from sight is also important.
Lastly, since vehicle thefts and burglaries tend to happen when the vehicle owner is away, it is up to the community to keep a vigilant watch in their neighborhoods. If you see anything suspicious or unusual, call the Humble Police Department at 281-446-7127, or dial 911.