University Park remains a very safe place to live and work. The City’s most reported crime in 2022 was Burglary of Motor Vehicles. Many of the 171 victims admitted the items stolen were left in plain sight. Moreover, much of the time, victims acknowledged their vehicles were left unlocked, making wallets, purses, computer laptops and jewelry easy and quick to obtain. UPPD continues to stress that residents should lock their vehicles and take a moment to remove their valuables or place them in the trunk. To further reduce crimes of opportunity, it’s also a good idea to keep all household doors locked and your garage doors down, even when you are at home.
University Park Burglary of Motor Vehicles
View or download image of Burglary of Motor Vehicles chart
| Year | Number of Incidents |
|---|
| 2017 | 121 |
| 2018 | 123 |
| 2019 | 104 |
| 2020 | 101 |
| 2021 | 80 |
| 2022 | 171 |
Vehicle Thefts - In 2022, reported vehicle thefts dropped slightly from the previous year. While 29 vehicles were stolen in 2021, that figure dropped to 27 last year. Here as well, owners are making things easier for thieves, often telling officers they left the keys or the key fob in the vehicle.
Traffic Safety – 86 traffic collisions were reported in 2022. UPPD continues to use targeted enforcement in select locations to help keep that number relatively small.
Other 2022 crime statistics
- Robberies – 8
- Business Burglaries – 10
- Residential Burglaries – 16
- Bike Thefts – 33
Following budgetary approval by the City Council, starting with the 2022-23 academic year, a UPPD officer is now on-duty throughout the school day on each of the City’s HPISD campuses. This includes the continuation of an officer at McCulloch Intermediate School for the D.A.R.E. program.
School Crossing Guards - The City partners with HPISD to provide crossing guard services at 19 locations throughout the city. The City continues to fund this effort, while HPISD personnel oversee its day-to-day operations.
Service Calls - In 2022 UPPD answered 187,142 calls for service. That’s nearly 1,000 more calls for service than the department recorded in 2021. The increase is another indication that residents have resumed more normal activities following months of COVID-19 restrictions.
Direct Alarm Monitoring - Business and residential addresses continue to enroll in the City’s Direct Alarm Monitoring service that links alarm systems directly to the Police Dispatch Center. At the end of 2022, the City had 3,562 Direct Alarm customers.