Crime Report...
...cont'd from page 6
plan dubbed Operation Mouse Trap. This initiative, courtesy of a $5,000 grant from State Farm, allows the department to purchase and install video and audio equipment in a "bait car." The bait car is then placed in high-priority areas where crime analysis shows vehicles are being burglarized in greater numbers. Officers are positioned close to the bait car so they can nab the perpetrators in action. Officer Vargas expects the Hyde Park neighborhood to be on the list of recommended places for the bait car.
Hopefully, this effort will calm the fears of a resident who wrote to say that four cars parked along the south side of 46th Street near Avenue B had the windows in the driver's side smashed in. The man was told that lack of evidence prevented officers from arresting the suspects who were apprehended a few blocks away. He worries about being safe in the neighborhood.
Other burglaries also occurred recently. Two were reported at commercial establishments and five at separate residences. The convenience store in the 4400 block of Duval was broken into at 2:30 a.m. on January 21, as was a business in the 300 block of 44th Street eight days later. The five homes targeted occurred in the following blocks: 4400 Avenue A, 4400 and 4800 Duval, 4500 Avenue H, and 3800 Speedway. Six thefts were reported, five in various homes and one at a school located in the 3900 block of Speedway. Homes targeted include the following blocks: 500 47th Street, 4500 Avenue A, 4800 Red River Street, 4400 Avenue C and 4300 Duval Street. All of the residential thefts occurred two or three days apart from one another between 9 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.
On Valentine's Day, bicycles were stolen shortly after midnight from two separate locations. These occurred in the 400 block of 45th Street and the 4300 block of Duval Street.
Two separate and distinct offenses were listed last month that I had not previously seen in the neighborhood crime logs since assuming this post. The afternoon of February 1, someone was caught with drug paraphernalia in the 4400 block of Duval Street. On Feb. 2, a theft of person was reported at 11:30 p.m. close to a restaurant located in the 400 block of 43rd Street. This offense means that something was unlawfully snatched from an individual without hurting the individual. This offense merits a punishment from 180 days to two years in state jail, and a fine of up to $10,000.
Other offenses included a family disturbance (address unknown), unreasonable noise coming from a residence in the 4600 block of Avenue B, and three reports of criminal mischief in the following blocks: 300 42nd Street, 4100 Avenue A and 4300 Avenue H.
| -- | Hermelinda Zamarripa Community Liaison, Office of the Police Monitor hermelinda.zamarripa@ci.austin.tx.us 974-9097 |
