 With an increase in breaking and entering – including mail theft, auto theft, and commercial break-ins around Austin, Texas – Cothron’s shares tips on how to keep property safe. A Shortage Of Police In September 2023, due to staffing shortages and an increase in crime, the Austin Police Department shared on social media that residents should call 311 instead of 911 if robbed. “The post was intended for victims of a jugging in general and not specific to robberies. Jugging is a form of theft that includes both robbery and burglary. It occurs when a suspect follows a victim from a bank to their next location before committing the crime,” the department stated, as reported by Fox News. Austin Police Association President Thomas Villarreal told Fox & Friends, “We're a growing city, a city that should be up around 2,000 officers…I've got about 1,475 officers in our police department and, you know, we're moving in the wrong direction.”  An Increase In Mail & Auto Theft During this past holiday season, postal workers left notes in mailboxes around Austin, urging people to check their mail daily, in order to cut down on theft. A United States Postal Service press release stated earlier last year that “incidents of letter carrier robberies are on the rise across the nation. In FY22, 412 USPS letter carriers were robbed on the job. With 305 incidents reported in the first half of FY23, these incidents are increasingly more prevalent. Additionally, the agency reported an increase in high-volume mail theft incidents from mail receptacles including blue collection boxes: 38,500 in FY22 and more than 25,000 in the first half of FY23.” Late last year, KXAN reported on Austin’s auto thefts, detailing stories of a victim who had her car stolen, added a steering wheel club, and had to deal with a thief trying to steal it again, as well as a victim whose car was stolen from his gated apartment complex, though his case was closed, since there were no witnesses or surveillance videos. KXAN went on to say that between January 1, 2022 and October 5, 2023, the Austin Police Department looked into 10,234 auto theft cases, and there were arrests in only 809 of them. “In Austin, many suspects are teens who receive little-to-no sentences, allowing them to continually re-offend.”  A Continuation Of The Problem…& Some Helpful Hints Now, in February 2024, the problems continue. Mail theft – which can lead to identities being stolen and further financial-related crimes – is being seen more and more across the city and country. Postal workers’ keys regularly go missing or get stolen, specifically arrow keys, which allow entry into any/all mailboxes. Cothron’s is seeing an increase in calls from corporate customers who have suffered break-ins. Thieves are targeting lock boxes and stealing master keys, leaving many wanting to rekey entire commercial buildings. When it comes to cutting down on the chances of having property broken into or belongings stolen, keep the following security tips in mind:
 The news isn’t all bad all the time, though: Sally Lozoya and her husband told KVUE that they have had storage units in Austin for about a decade and that a year ago, they started dealing with break-ins and burglaries.
The property manager of the facility, Martin Lacayo, said the issue was resolved by installing an anti-burglary alarm detection system, as the area is now under surveillance and using individual keypad access codes for each tenant (services we offer:). So prioritize prevention…Call Cothron’s today. 9/21/2023
Then & Now: Cothron's 75 Years In AustinYou may have heard that Cothron’s Security Professionals is celebrating its 75th anniversary. In honor of this, we wanted to take a little trip down memory lane… Since 1948, a LOT has changed in Austin, Texas, and we’ve grown and evolved with this beautiful city. We’ve moved, changed locations, and added shops to continue serving as the oldest and most trusted locksmith and security company in town. You may be surprised to learn that some iconic buildings you drive by each day and regularly frequent actually used to house our business. They are now filled with restaurants and stores and offices and bars…but a piece of Cothron’s history still hangs about (sometimes literally:)... Past/Current Shop Locations
  Some Fun Facts
   Well, did any of these past locations or facts surprise you? Do you remember any of them? Have you been to our current shops? If so, we appreciate your business, and if not, we hope to see you soon.
Here’s to another 75 years! 7/12/2023
Top Things To Do In Austin This SummerIf you’re traveling and find yourself in the ATX, the capital of Texas, we have your itinerary ready for you!  Summer is here, meaning it’s time for vacations, getaways, adventures, and roadtrips…and we highly suggest coming to Austin, Texas, y’all. We’re the capital city of the state and the Live Music Capital of the World, and we like to keep it weird. We kind of have something for everyone, whether you’re into shopping, the great outdoors, history, or food. And our top suggestions of things to do in ATX include:
This is just a sampling of all that’s offered, and we hope you get to visit ATX soon. But wherever your summer travels lead you, remember to have a safe/fun time…and remember to call Cothron’s at 512-472-6273 if you need a locksmith!  |
Locksmith News & Security BlogAs Austin's oldest and most trusted locksmith and security company, Cothron's provides industry updates and resources through its blog. Categories
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