As the city of Austin reels from a spate of gunpoint robberies, the Austin Police Department is reaching out to the community for assistance in apprehending a suspect believed to be targeting women in the Hyde Park area. According to CBS Austin, two armed robberies were reported on the 600 block of Maiden Lane, with the first occurring on December 22 at 9:48 p.m. and a subsequent attack on December 24 at 9:15 p.m.
Details shared by the authorities describe the suspect as a Black male in his late teens to early 20s, with a height ranging between 5'5" and 5'8" and a medium build, this individual has reportedly wielded a firearm during his offenses, before making a retreat on foot in the general direction of Maiden Lane and West 35th Street. In the December 22 robbery, he wore a hoodie and black beanie and had in his possession a stolen white fuzzy fanny pack alongside a black crescent purse; during the incident on December 24, he was seen in a black hoodie coupled with a black beanie and dark pants, clutching a stolen red shoulder bag.
The FOX 7 Austin report adds that detectives are in the process of collecting doorbell and surveillance video footage and are especially interested in any that captures the area between 9:45-10:00 p.m. on December 22 and 9:15-9:30 p.m. on December 24. They hope these images may shed light on the suspect's escape route through the residential neighborhood thereby assisting in his identification and prompt capture.
APD's Robbery Unit is actively following up on any leads and the public can contribute to this effort by contacting them at 512-974-5092 with any information or available footage; moreover, anonymity is assured for those who prefer to interact through Capital Area Crime Stoppers either by visiting austincrimestoppers.org or by calling 512-472-8477, and it should be noted a reward of up to $1,000 is on the table for information that eventually leads to an arrest in these disquieting events.
