Panhandle Auto Theft and Theft Unit partners with 15 Panhandle agencies

AMARILLO, Texas (KFDA) – 15 Panhandle agencies have partnered with the Panhandle Auto Theft and Theft Unit to combat catalytic converter thefts.

More than $500,000 was awarded to the Panhandle Auto Theft and Theft Unit in a combined Catalytic Converter Grant funded by the Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Agency.

15 agencies, including the Borger, Cactus, Canyon, Dumas and Pampa Police Departments, came together to purchase equipment that anyone can use to combat catalytic converter thefts.

The money will be spent to add more than 100 license plate readers around the Panhandle, along with a drone and other equipment.

This equipment will help with car thefts, missing person cases, and more.

“Some of the equipment we will be receiving are license plate reader cameras that will be located throughout the Texas Panhandle, which will assist in the investigation of auto theft, auto theft, all types of crimes, missing person cases, wanted person cases,” said Commander Patrick McBroom of the Panhandle Auto Theft and Burglary Unit. , things like that,” he said.

Moore, Ochiltree, Donley, Dallam and Carson County Sheriff’s Offices are just a few of the departments receiving assistance from this grant.

Commander McBroom said there was a huge increase in catalytic converter thefts a few years ago. The increase led to legislation allocating money for these grants.

“License plate reader cameras can be used in a variety of ways, from identifying suspects in cases to catching people actually committing crimes,” McBroom said. “Silver alerts or things like that, we can find missing people or aging missing people, etc. Not only is it for crime, it also helps with public safety.”

Although thefts have decreased recently, Commander McBroom predicts it will become a problem again as prices rise.

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