Robberies Increase in Austin
Austin police say the city’s rapidly increasing population is making people more vulnerable to robbery and other personal crimes.
Annually, the Austin Police Department reports crime rates in Austin to the FBI. This year’s report showed an increase in robberies while other crimes decreased. Detective T.J. Vineyard said citizens can protect themselves by being aware of why and how these crimes occur
Vineyard said, the risk of being robbed increases for people already involved in crimes.
“A lot of our robberies start as prostitution or drug related deals,” said Vineyard. “Usually they do it to people involved in selling drugs because they’re not going to call the police because they’re selling drugs and they’re involved in criminal activity.”
Robberies also frequently occur near the bars downtown. Vineyard explained how people become intoxicated downtown and stop paying attention. They look down at their phone while walking or calling a cab and someone will grab their phone or purse and run away.
Similarly, people will get in drunk fights and it becomes a robbery, Vineyard said.
In the past if a fight broke out, “We would get there and they would break up or run away. It was just an assault, said Vineyard. Now what happens, someone will get in a fight, punch a guy, and beat him up and then they’ll take his phone to keep them from calling the police. Running away with it, well, that turns it into a robbery because you took property during the course of the assault,” said Vineyard.
APD tries to educate people on how to prevent robberies and avoid becoming a victim. Vineyard explained how the transient nature of the city of Austin makes this part of their job difficult.
“We have a lot of students that come in and leave, a lot of legislators that come in and leave, we have all these people that come in,” Vineyard said. “Part of your effort in preventing crime is educating people (to not) get drunk and look at your phone while you’re walking back to your car. As soon as we educate, one group of students leaves and a whole new group comes, and we have to start over. Whereas in some cities that are more stable, you wouldn’t have that same challenge,”.
APD warns citizens to pay attention, but for one victim that wasn’t enough. UT student Daniel Hartland walked home with headphones on from a night of studying at the library. He knew to always look around and behind him as a precaution. He saw two men, but didn’t think much of it and turned back around. The two men punched him, bashed his head into the nearest wall, took his headphones and iPhone. The men left him with a fractured nose, concussion, stitches and a case of PTSD. Hartland no longer has his phone or headphones out and sticks to busy, well-lit streets when walking home at night.
APD also advises to try to get a good description of the robber. Vineyard mentioned that so many times people can’t give a description. Ask pedicab driver Mike Mayberry.
“I got robbed in Austin in 2011 during ACL,” he said. “A girl reached into my pedicab seat while I was counting my tips and grabbed a bunch of money and ran off. I was so tired from riding all weekend I didn't even chase her. Plus, I was pretty flush with cash at that moment and tops she got $60.”
And the description Mayberry had of his robber?
“She had bangs.”
