A slew of auto thefts have been reported at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport as incidents continue to climb around the metroplex.
Multiple vehicles were reportedly stolen from the airport’s parking lots last week, with at least two taken from the Terminal A parking garage.
“It’s just unfortunate, we’ve parked at the airport so many times,” Fort Worth resident Kate Team told WFAA.
Frisco resident Anthony Frenette told NBC 5 DFW that he watched his car get stolen from his interior dashcam after getting a security alert.
“They didn’t break anything from what I can see. I’m not sure what they’re using. I’m assuming it’s some sort of program that will unlock the car. That’s the other thing, I have Ram Connect on it that will tell me where it’s at, how many miles I have on it. That was disabled too,” Frenette said.
It is currently unclear how many vehicles were stolen from airport property in the rash of auto thefts.
“DFW Airport police are investigating reports of vehicle thefts occurring earlier this week on airport property and have increased patrols of these areas. The safety and security of travelers and employees is our top priority,” the airport said in a statement to NBC 5.
“DFW Airport is continually assessing and enhancing crime reduction strategies, both seen and unseen, across our 28-square-mile property. We continue to ask visitors and employees to ‘see something, say something’ when encountering any suspicious activity.”
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, auto thefts have been on the rise in North Texas over the last few years, especially in Dallas. The Dallas Police Department logged 10,734 incidents in 2020, 11,938 incidents in 2021, and 13,417 in 2022. According to the most recent verified statistics from DPD, there were 4,999 reported cases of auto theft in the first four months of 2023, a 17% year-over-year increase.
More up-to-date statistics on auto thefts in the city are currently not readily available, allegedly because of a purported ransomware attack on City servers in early May.
Many of the city’s auto thefts occur in the downtown area, which has likely been especially affected by DPD’s current staffing shortage. The department lacks roughly 900 of the 4,000 officers recommended by a City analysis.
In March of 2023, according to an analysis conducted by the Metroplex Civic and Business Association, Dallas police logged 70 instances of motor vehicle theft in the neighborhood, while Fort Worth’s downtown area only saw three. Downtown Fort Worth is patrolled by a specialized police unit and private security guards, which has reportedly brought down crime in the area over the last couple of years.
