LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) – Laredo police arrested two men Jan. 6 after they were caught inside a car reported stolen in San Antonio.
A stolen 2021 Toyota Camry from Bexar County was found on U.S. Highway 83. The driver and passenger were arrested.
The key to finding the car was technology, according to Krista Lopez, spokesperson for the Laredo Police Department Auto Theft Task Force.
“So the vehicle, a 2021 Toyota Camry, was reported stolen out of San Antonio, and we were given that information. Luckily the vehicle is equipped with a GPS monitoring/tracking system, so we were able to pinpoint exactly where it was,” Lopez said.
Stolen cars and trucks from other cities commonly make their way to border towns like Laredo. For the auto theft task force, finding these vehicles can take more than a single agency.
“It is very important to have that multi agency collaboration between other cities, especially San Antonio because we are a port of entry, we are a border city, so it is very common for criminals to try to cross vehicles into Mexico,” Lopez said.
Despite the stolen vehicle trend, LPD reports the number of car break-ins is down 25% compared to last year. Forty-two percent of these cases are due to unlocked cars.
LPD stresses the importance of locking doors and removing valuable items. Police made 174 arrests as of November 2025 in connection with stolen vehicles.
LPD is looking to improve these numbers and decrease the trend in 2026. Officials say prevention is key and encourage the community to report any suspicious activity to Crime Stoppers at 956-727-TIPS.
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