Hollywood Park Police Department is providing residents with tips on how to protect their vehicles and personal belongings in the midst of a car theft ring.

Police Chief Shad Prichard briefed City Council on June 21 about several residents having reported vehicular burglaries in the last several weeks.

According to Prichard, the suspected individuals appear to be organized and connected in a ring involving car thefts in Hollywood Park, Shavano Park and numerous other north side cities, including Olmos Park, Live Oak, Fair Oaks Ranch, Boerne, Selma and Schertz.

Hollywood Park police recently hosted a meeting of local law enforcement officials about the car theft ring.

Prichard said HPPD is working with counterparts across the San Antonio area to record evidence in collective efforts to pursue suspects and stop the car theft ring.



“Every city in this area reached out and said we’re getting hit just as hard,” Prichard said.

Prichard said the suspected thieves use stolen vehicles to wander through select communities in search of unlocked cars. In some instances, the thieves find an unsecured firearm in an unlocked vehicle, take it and use as self-protection while seeking out other unlocked cars.

According to Prichard, police do their best to track down stolen vehicles and personal items. He said the suspects typically use a stolen vehicle for 12-24 hours and then dump it.

Prichard also said some suspected individuals appear capable of taking a vehicle’s OnStar navigation system out of commission in order to evade police pursuit.


Prichard offered tips for residents to keep their vehicles and personal belongings safe.

Above all, it is most important to keep one’s car locked and do not leave personal items, including spare keys, inside the vehicle in plain sight, Prichard said.

Prichard also asked residents to document their belongings in case they fall victim to a car thief/burglar.

“Let’s make Hollywood Park a hard target,” Prichard said.


Hollywood Park residents with information that could help local police with their investigation are asked to call the HPPD's nonemergency dispatch line at 210-335-6000.