Southeast Texas Auto Theft Task Force

10/07/2026

10/07/2026

The Southeast Texas Auto Theft Task Force conducts 68A inspections every Wednesday from 8am-11am. “First come, first serv”. Pull into the line, wait by your vehicle, and an investigator will be with your shortly. The Task Force provides this service to our citizens free of charge!

10/07/2026

The Southeast Texas Auto Theft Task Force had a great time at Beaumont National Night Out at Central Park!

It was a pleasure getting out in the community, visiting with families, and especially seeing all the kids having a blast with our Xbox gaming systems and Need for Speed.

Events like National Night Out give us a great opportunity to interact with the community outside of our normal duties, build relationships, and share important information about vehicle and property theft prevention.

A big THANK YOU to everyone who stopped by and spent some time with us. We had a blast and judging by the smiles, the kids did too!

Lock Your Car
Take Your Keys
Hide Your Belongings

09/17/2026

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT:

We seized another vehicle yesterday. Please use due diligence when buying a vehicle/RV on facebook.

Crooks are stealing vehicles and finding another vehicle, with a likeness and using the non stolen VIN to create stickers for the stolen one.

So when the unsuspecting buyer runs the VIN, it comes back clear, they think they are buying a vehicle that is not stolen.

Crooks are getting better at disguising the stolen vehicle. Here are some tips:

1. Look at their profile, how long has it been up?
2. Is the price too good to be true?
3. Don’t accept a photo copy of the seller’s license, these are fake.
4. When you pay public data .com or any other public data base, does the license plate return to the same name as the person posting the vehicle for sale?

*Remember, VIN stickers can be bought on Amazon.

When you go to DMV and try to register your new car, it flags there is already a vehicle using that VIN. You are told to bring this new vehicle to auto theft task force. If we discover the original VIN and it’s stolen, we seize your car.

Most of the time, victims lose their vehicle and are out the cash they paid for it. The Facebook profile is taken down and there is little to nothing for detectives to follow up with.

09/01/2026

⚠️ VTR-68A INSPECTIONS CANCELLED FOR SEPTEMBER 2, 2026 ⚠️

Due to the forecasted inclement weather, the Southeast Texas Auto Theft Task Force will not be conducting VTR-68A inspections on Wednesday, September 2, 2026.

We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding. The safety of our personnel and the public is our priority.

Thank you for your cooperation.

08/26/2026

Trailer Theft Prevention 🚨

Don’t make it easy for thieves! Secure your trailer whenever it’s not in use.

Lock it. Secure it. Protect it. 🔒

08/24/2026

On August 24, 2026, a member of the Southeast Texas Auto Theft Task Force was contacted by the Jefferson County Tax Office regarding an individual who was attempting to register a vehicle using a fraudulent title.

Upon arrival, the Task Force investigator made contact with the individual, who stated that they had purchased a 2022 GMC pickup truck through Facebook Marketplace for $18,000.00. During the subsequent investigation, it was determined that the vehicle was a cloned vehicle and had been reported stolen out of Houston, Texas.

The Southeast Texas Auto Theft Task Force reminds the public to exercise caution when purchasing vehicles through private-party sales and online marketplaces. If a deal seems too good to be true, it usually is. Always verify the vehicle’s identification, title, and history before completing a purchase.

08/05/2026

⚠️ Buyer Beware: Facebook Marketplace Vehicle Purchases ⚠️

What may look like a great deal can quickly become a costly mistake.

While conducting a VTR 68-A inspections on 8/05/2026, the Southeast Texas Auto Theft Task Force identified this pickup as a cloned vehicle that had been reported stolen out of Stafford, Texas. The buyer may have had no idea they had purchased this stolen vehicle.

Before purchasing any vehicle through Facebook Marketplace or other online marketplaces:

• Ask the seller to provide you the Vehicle Identification Number and check it through the NICB VIN check lookup.
• Make sure the VIN matches the title and registration.
• Be cautious of deals that seem too good to be true.
• Ask for maintenance records and ownership history.
• Meet in a safe, public location.
• If something doesn’t seem right, walk away.

Protect yourself. Do your homework before you buy. A few extra minutes of verification could save you thousands of dollars—and prevent you from unknowingly purchasing a stolen vehicle.

Southeast Texas Auto Theft Task Force