A Redditor from Austin, Texas, recently had a troubling run-in with car thieves, and the entire incident was caught on camera. The footage showed two individuals moving through a quiet neighborhood, checking parked cars. One of them easily got into a white vehicle and began searching for valuables, while the other tried their luck with other cars, which were thankfully locked.
The Reddit user, dranrebe, reported a sharp increase in car break-ins and thefts in East Austin, noting that their Subaru Outback and several other vehicles were broken into around 5 a.m., and their girlfriend’s car had also been searched the night before. They urged others in the area to be cautious by not leaving valuables in plain sight, keeping car doors locked, parking in well-lit areas when possible, and setting up security or dash cams if available.
After watching the video of the car thieves, one Redditor shared that the same suspects were seen in Northeast Austin on Thursday night. Another user mentioned that there have been regular break-ins along San Marcos Street between 7th and 9th, right in front of the French Legation, often while people leave their cars to head toward 6th or 7th Street for the evening. They advised others in the area to stay extra cautious.
The reports added to growing concern among locals, who were increasingly worried about their cars or belongings being stolen. One user warned, “Don’t leave ANYTHING in your car that you can’t afford to lose, hidden or not.”
Another pointed out that Texas law allows for the use of force in certain situations, saying, “In Texas there is a ‘nighttime’ justification for the use of deadly force to protect property. Crazy, but true. Sec. 9.42. DEADLY FORCE TO PROTECT PROPERTY. A person is justified in using deadly force against another to protect land or tangible, movable property.”
Some people argued that the rise in car thefts is happening because there are barely any real consequences for the thieves. One user, who claimed to be a property crime detective, said most of the offenders are teenagers and even after getting caught multiple times, they barely face any punishment. Adults, too, often walk free without serious repercussions.
“The justice system just has no teeth. Until society grows a spine and increases the penalties, this kind of thing will keep happening,” the user wrote. “Hell, even when they end up in county jail, they get AC, three meals a day, phone and email access, video chats, medical care, you name it.”
