Hutto reports fewer break-ins as police patrols increase

Hutto Police Chief Jeffrey Yarbrough told City Council that overall crime trends are moving in a positive direction. He said targeted patrols and increased officer visibility have played a key role in recent changes.

From January through October, vehicle break-ins dropped by 61 percent, while building break-ins fell by 55 percent. Traffic crashes also declined slightly, by about 1.5 percent during the same period.

While many crime categories declined, DWI arrests increased sharply. Yarbrough said arrests for driving while intoxicated rose 80 percent, which he attributed to a stronger focus on impaired driving enforcement rather than an increase in incidents.

Officers have also stepped up patrols around new construction sites across the city. Yarbrough said those efforts have helped deter theft and, in some cases, led to suspects being stopped while crimes were in progress.

Yarbrough told council members that the department’s staffing situation is improving. The police department currently has just two open positions, a change he said allows for more consistent patrol coverage across Hutto.

He added that officers are taking a strategic approach when patrolling higher risk areas, with the goal of preventing crime before it happens.

The update offered a snapshot of how increased police presence is shaping public safety in Hutto as the city continues to grow.

Thanks kvue.com for the scoop.