'I Know the Feeling:' San Antonio Woman's Car Stolen Overnight in Her Apartment Complex. It's Not Just Her
How can you keep your car safe?
A San Antonio couple’s truck was stolen from their apartment complex parking lot. How common is this problem, and how can apartment dwellers keep their vehicles safe?
TikTok user Samantha (@samanthuggy) told the story in a brief video posted on July 12. The selfie video shows a police car parked behind her apartment unit.
“Y’all, we woke up to our car stolen from our apartment complex,” Samantha says. “So we’ve got the police here now.”
In the caption, she writes, “San Antonio, you keep doing us dirty. First, our tires got stolen and now our truck is stolen.”
In the comments, some shared their own stolen vehicle stories. Others complained about what they perceive as an increase in car theft crime overall.
“People need to put trackers on their cars and put them in a hard spot,” wrote one person. “I have two AirTags [in my vehicle] so they get a notification saying there is a tag following them to scare them.”
“What apartment complex?” asked a second. “So we are on the lookout. Please. And post pictures of what your truck looks like so we can keep an eye out.”
“On my first day here they tried to take my rims at the Quarry,” said another. “If I wasn’t just picking something up my truck would’ve been on bricks. Never dealt with this in Florida.”
Are Apartment Car Thefts on the Rise?
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According to data from the National Insurance Crime Bureau, car thefts in the United States are actually at a 40-year low, declining 17% from 2023 to 2024. The NICB attributes the decrease to a nationwide collaboration between law enforcement agencies, auto theft task forces, vehicle manufacturers, governing bodies, and the NICB to investigate and deter insurance fraud and crime.
Washington, Nevada, Oregon, Nebraska, and Colorado saw the largest decreases in thefts. The only state to experience an increase over that period was Maine, which saw a 2% rise in 2024. Washington, D.C. experienced the highest theft rate in the country despite also seeing an 18% decrease for the year overall.
Despite the improvement, that’s still almost 1 million vehicles reported stolen each year. And replacing a car without the right insurance policy can be extremely costly. Especially as the Trump administration’s tariffs start to impact the auto market.
How to Prevent Car Theft at Apartment Complexes
The NICB offers a few reminders for drivers looking to avoid this scenario:
- Don’t leave your keys in the car,
- Don’t leave your car running while unattended,
- Park in safe, well-lit areas,
- Hide or secure all valuables, and
- Close and lock all doors.
If you are the victim of a vehicle theft, be like Samantha and report the incident to law enforcement immediately. The NCIB says that will increase your chances of recovery.
When it comes to apartment complexes specifically, Cloudastructure recommends choosing a complex with cameras and security; adding steering wheel locks, alarm systems, and GPS trackers to your vehicle; and being proactive about reporting suspicious activity.
Motor1 reached out to Samantha via email for comment. We'll be sure to update this article if she responds.
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