Austin Police are asking the public for help tracking down a 42-year-old woman wanted on an outstanding warrant for burglary of a building. Melissa Smith stands 5 feet 5 inches tall and weighs about 155 pounds, according to a wanted notice, and anyone with information on her whereabouts could be eligible for a cash reward.
The request came as part of the department's #WantedWednesday campaign, with the Austin Police Department
posting Wednesday that it was seeking the public's help in locating Smith. The post identifies her outstanding warrant as being for burglary of a building and lists the warrant number as D1DC26303887, according to the accompanying notice from Capital Area Crime Stoppers.
How Tipsters Can Report Information
Capital Area Crime Stoppers says tipsters may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000, per the wanted notice. The organization says tips can be submitted anonymously, and that tipsters remain unidentified throughout the process, according to Capital Area Crime Stoppers.
People with information can call the tip line at 512-472-TIPS (8477), the number listed on the wanted notice. The organization's website notes that tips can also be submitted online or through its mobile app, offering multiple ways for anyone with information to come forward without giving their name.
Not Every Warrant Shows Up the Same Way
Residents who want to look into warrants on their own should know the limits of Austin's public search tools. The City of Austin says its online warrant search only covers warrants issued by the Austin Police Department, not every type of warrant that might exist in the county or state system.
That distinction matters for anyone trying to independently verify a case like Smith's before deciding whether to call in a tip.
