The Texas Department of Public Safety is urging all Texas spring breakers to avoid traveling to border cities in Mexico.

“There is an increase in Mexican drug cartel related violence in the northern Mexican border cities. Parents should not allow their children to visit these Mexican cities because their safety cannot be guaranteed,” said Steven McCraw, DPS director.

The U.S. State Department Web site lists several travel alerts related to violence in Mexico. Travelers should always check that Web site for the most up-to-date information related to security issues in Mexico. See http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_970.html.

Forgery

The Bastrop County Sheriff’s Office has been seeing several check forgeries recently. Most of these checks have the victim’s driver’s license number and home telephone number printed on them. This information is not needed on your checks. The minimum information needed is your name and address. If you do not have you driver’s license printed on your checks, the clerk may ask to verify your check by looking at your driver’s license. Not printing information such as driver’s license numbers on checks will help to reduce incidents of forgery.

Copper

Copper theft is on the rise again. The price of copper has risen, which increases the theft of copper. We need to watch out for each other while we are away from our homes.

Impounds

The Bastrop County Sheriff’s Office will no longer be posting impounded livestock in the newspapers. All impounded livestock will be listed on the county Web site under the public notice section. The Bastrop County web site is www.co.bastrop.tx.us.

Call for help

If you find yourself a victim of a crime, call the sheriff’s office and have a deputy sent to your location. There may be valuable evidence at the scene the deputy can collect which may help solve the case.

Always remember if you have any questions, or need any assistance with crime prevention, you can contact me at 512-549-5069.