Signs at Pease Park warn of car break-ins and thefts

AUSTIN, Texas - Several city departments are working to crack down on car burglaries in Pease Park.

What's happening at Pease Park?

What we know:

Allison Johnson, director of community engagement at the Pease Park Conservancy, says break-ins typically happen when the park is crowded, and there's something valuable in sight in a car. 

"Our signage is really just to keep people informed on the best way that they can participate in preventing these break-ins. We want people to know it's happening," she said.

In the parking lot at Pease Park, you see signs that say: 

      "Days without car break-in" with a number that changes each day

      "Bait car may in parking lot - steal one, go to jail"

      "Hide your things, lock your car, take your keys"

Johnson says they can go weeks without a break-in, but it's a repeated pattern.

"It seems to come in waves, and then it goes away, and we don't have any break-ins, and then it comes back," she said.

She says the number on the sign is based on reports from their staff. 

"We have a park operations team," she said. "They keep an eye out, and they know when things happen."

A police car also sits in the parking lot. 

"It seems to be here on and off, and then I know they're patrolling the area as well," Johnson said. "We're in touch with APD and appreciate the efforts they're making to try to curtail this."

One of the efforts is bait car signage. APD says they're not sharing details of the program, so it stays successful. 

Local perspective:

"It's an interesting strategy," Melanie Mullan, who was at Pease Park, said.

"It's interesting having that there. Maybe that would make me think twice about not taking something, but I don't know, I can't really get into the mindset of a person who's doing that completely," Hollie Meador, who was also at Pease Park, said.

By the numbers:

APD crime data shows in the past five years, there have been 108 reports of thefts and vehicle burglaries at the Pease Park address.

Austin 311 says they've received 69 reports of vehicle burglaries in that same time frame. 

"If you do have a break-in, report it to 311 or 911, and that helps the city keep track of the number of incidents that are happening in different locations," Johnson said.