San Marcos sees a spike in auto thefts, asks for additional funds to combat them

SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN) – Amid a spike in auto thefts, the San Marcos City Council approved a grant application for $175,000 to combat auto crimes in the city.

According to San Marcos Police data, auto thefts in the city have increased by around 50% -- from 103 to 157 – so far this year compared to the same period in 2023. SMPD said asking for additional funding was necessary to thwart the increase in thefts. 

“Region-wide, everyone's getting hit with auto thefts up and down [Interstate] 35,” said Brandon Winkenwerder, SMPD assistant chief over police operations. “San Antonio Police released that they had 19,000 stolen in a one year period from May [2023] to May [2024].”

The application is to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicle's Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority. SMPD said it would use the grant to hire an auto crime investigator and install ten license plate reading cameras. The city of San Marcos also contributed $35,482 for the purchases. 

Winkenwerder said the auto crime investigator’s scope of responsibility will focus solely on auto crime investigations. 

“[The new officer] will focus on auto thefts and all the extra crimes related to them, such as the catalytic converter thefts,” he said. 

Car thefts in San Marcos

The auto theft trends in San Marcos match national ones – Kia and Hyundai vehicles being targeted more often than others. 

Winkenwerder said just under half of the vehicles stolen since Jan. 2024 were Kias and Hyundais. 

“We also have a significant number of trucks stolen,” he continued. “Fords and Chevys are the two popular models in that.” 

Winkenwerder said many of the trucks stolen are taken just after midnight and cross the U.S.-Mexico border as the sun rises. 

“It's over the nighttime hours when people aren't going to be aware,” he said. “Vehicles are stolen about 1:30 a.m., and at around 6:45 a.m. they're crossing the border into Mexico.”