Austin police have taken into custody two individuals following a spate of armed robberies in the Hyde Park area, targeting women last month. According to CBS Austin, the suspects, identified as 47-year-old Andre Center and a minor, face charges relating to credit card abuse with the possibility of additional charges forthcoming.
The arrests were executed by the Austin Police Department's Violent Crime Task Force, with Center being detained at the Travis County Jail, and the juvenile suspect remanded at the Travis County Gardner Betts Juvenile Center. The two were seen on camera after allegedly committing thefts on West 35th and Maiden Lane, having taken a fanny pack, a purse, and later on, a shoulder bag.
As reported by FOX 7 Austin, the robberies occurred on December 22 and 24, with the first incident recorded at approximately 9:48 p.m. and the second incident occurring around 9:15 p.m. Police claim these were a part of a series where multiple women were robbed at gunpoint. The suspect then fled, leading to a chase through the neighborhood around Maiden Lane and West 35th Street.
APD is urging anyone in possession of video footage or any information related to these incidents to reach out to their Robbery unit at 512-974-5092. Anonymous tips can also be provided through austincrimestoppers.org or by calling the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program at 512-472-8477. A reward of up to $1,000 may be offered for information that leads to an arrest, ensuring that chased through the neighborhood near Maiden Lane and West 35th Street, the safety of a community often taken for granted remains a shared responsibility.
