The Austin Police Department announced the arrest of two individuals, a juvenile and 47-year-old Andre Center, in relation to a spate of aggravated robberies in the Hyde Park neighborhood. The authorities have charged both suspects with Credit Card Abuse following their alleged involvement in the incidents that occurred on the 600 block of Maiden Lane on December 22 and December 24, 2024. According to a press release from the Austin Police Department, Center is currently being held at the Travis County Jail, while the juvenile has been booked into the Gardner-Betts Juvenile Center. Additional charges may be forthcoming.
The initial police appeal for public assistance came after multiple female victims were robbed at gunpoint by a suspect described as a black male in his late teens to early 20s, with a medium build and standing between 5'5" and 5'8". The first of these harrowing episodes unfolded on the evening of December 22, around 9:48 p.m., and the sequence continued two days later, close to the same hour. The police report that the assailant then fled on foot, provoking a chase through the serene residential area proximate to Maiden Lane and W 35th Street.
Investigators were able to secure images of the suspect escaping the scene and appealed to the public for additional footage that might have captured the fleeing individual between the crucial minutes of 9:45 – 10:00 pm on December 22nd, and 9:15 – 9:30 pm on December 24th. The suspect's attire was detailed in the descriptions, including a hoodie, various beanies, and stolen personal items like a white fuzzy fanny pack and a red shoulder bag. These precise details seemed to buttress the police resolve to close in on the suspect with precision.
Though the arrests mark a turning point in the investigation, the APD continues to solicit any video evidence or information related to the robberies. Members of the public who can provide assistance are encouraged to reach out to the APD Robbery Unit at 512-974-5092. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program. Information leading to an arrest may qualify for a reward of up to $1,000, signaling authorities' commitment to bringing all culpable parties to justice and restoring peace in the once tranquil corners of Hyde Park.
