1200 Travis, Suite 500, Houston, TX 77002
The Houston Police Department's Automobile Burglary and Theft Prevention Authority (ABTPA) Grant Unit, known as the Houston Auto Crimes Task Force (H.A.C.T.F.) was created to reduce and/or limit the increase of the auto theft/auto burglary rate in the City of Houston, Fort Bend County and Harris County the largest Metropolitan area in Texas. The Grant Unit has been able to accomplish this primary mission through the work of its five proactive squads, and three contractual agencies, a Department of Public Safety (DPS) Investigator, a Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office (FBCSO) Investigator and a Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO) Department of Public Safety Officer. These Grant Unit Members continue to investigate, arrest, and prosecute those who profit from the illicit auto theft and auto burglary business. The auto theft rate in the City of Houston has decreased by 68% since its inception. The Crime Reduction, Salvage Shop, Undercover Operations, Port/Accessory Shop and Crime Prevention/Awareness Programs Squads have combined efforts to utilize surveillance, intelligence data assessment, proactive investigative and undercover/covert investigative techniques, regulatory enforcement measures and education to reduce and/or eliminate the illegal sale and/or purchase of stolen vehicles and/or their component parts.