Report: Downtown Austin sees 175% rise in pickpocketing

Published

3 years ago

April 15, 2022

Report: Downtown Austin sees 175% rise in pickpocketing

AUSTIN, Texas — A month-to-month Austin Police Division report reveals an increase in pickpocketing citywide, with the downtown space seeing a specific uptick within the crime.

The 175% leap in pickpocketing is attributed to the now 44 reported downtown incidents, when simply final 12 months it was 16.

With extra reside occasions taking place, attributable to much less restrictive COVID-19 protocols, the downtown space has seen greater crowds. And with greater crowds, often there’s extra exercise.

When evaluating the citywide police report information from February 2021 to February 2022, a 269% enhance was indicated.

Whereas there’s a serious rise in pickpocketing citywide, with sure sectors seeing a bigger enhance than others, some areas have skilled decreases or no adjustments in any respect.

Austin Police Division sectors. (APD, 2020)

Listed here are different year-over-year pickpocketing statistics by sector from APD’s February 2022 police report:

Adam: Down 20%
Baker: Up 100%
Charlie: No change
David: No change
Edward: Down 29%
Frank: No change
George: Up 175%
Henry: Up 200%
Ida: Down 29%

The Metropolitan Police Division in Washington provided the next ideas for stopping the crime:

FOR WOMEN

Don’t carry your pockets in your purse. Conceal it in a buttoned or zippered pocket the place it doesn’t present a bulge.
Use a handbag that’s troublesome to open. A handbag with a zipper or snaps is greatest.
If you’re carrying a shoulder bag, place the strap(s) diagonally throughout your physique, versus carrying it on one shoulder. This retains the purse in entrance of you, as an alternative of at your aspect or behind you, which generally occurs with purses with lengthy straps. If you’re carrying a hand bag, then make sure that to carry it near the entrance of your physique, as an alternative of holding it in your wrist or loosely in your hand.
By no means go away your purse unattended on a retailer counter or in a grocery buying cart.

FOR MEN

The goal areas are again trouser pockets, and suitcoat and sports activities jacket pockets, situated each in and out. A pickpocket typically avoids entrance trouser pockets, and particularly buttoned or zippered pockets.
If it’s a must to carry your pockets in an unbuttoned jacket, coat or pants pocket, make certain it holds solely what you may afford to lose. Maintain giant sums of cash, bank cards, IDs, in your entrance pocket or any buttoned or zippered pocket. Some individuals even place a rubber band round their pockets, as a result of the rubber band creates friction and rubs in opposition to the material of your pocket if somebody is trying to take away it with out your data. One of the best place for keys is on a series connected to your clothes.
By no means pat your pocket to see in case your pockets is there; this lets a prison know the precise location of your valuables.
Bigger-size “pocket secretaries” are notably inviting to pickpockets, and comparatively straightforward to steal.

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Resolution Economics Expands its Financial Advisory Services Practice with Addition of Austin, Texas office

Published

6 hours ago

January 28, 2025

Press Room

Resolution Economics Expands its Financial Advisory Services Practice with Addition of Austin, Texas office

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Resolution Economics, LLC (“Resolution Economics” or “ResEcon”) announced today that it has expanded its services and geographic footprint through the opening of its new Austin, Texas office. Jeff Andrien, M.B.A., Partner, will lead the new office, which will be part of the Financial Advisory Services (“FAS”) practice group.

Resolution Economics (PRNewsfoto/Resolution Economics, LLC)

Now in its 27^th year, Resolution Economics is a leading specialty consulting firm providing economic and statistical analysis and regulatory compliance advice to companies, law firms, non-profits, universities, and others. The firm has expertise in labor and employment matters, finance/forensic accounting analysis, valuations, artificial intelligence bias audits, and life sciences. ResEcon’s Financial Advisory Services team provides analysis in a wide range of consulting situations to help companies understand their internal compliance circumstances and provides expert assistance and testimony in a variety of commercial dispute settings.

Mr. Andrien holds an M.B.A. from the University of Texas. Joining Mr. Andrien as a Director in Austin is Prateek Shah, M.P.A, CPA. Mr. Andrien, Mr. Shah and their Austin-based team bring more than 25 years’ experience analyzing damages issues pertaining to antitrust, intellectual property, marketing, securities, other commercial damages, as well as valuations for businesses and law firms. They have authored numerous expert reports and testified as expert witnesses in state and federal courts throughout the United States. Mr. Andrien and Mr. Shah teach undergraduate and graduate level courses in finance at the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas.

“While our work is nationwide, we are thrilled to have an on-the-ground presence in the thriving business market of Texas,” said Ali Saad, Managing Partner at ResEcon.

“Resolution Economics has long been known for its consistent high quality, thoughtful and innovative work,” said Mr. Andrien. “We are delighted to join such a well-respected group and expand the firm’s reach.”

J. Duross O’Bryan, head of ResEcon’s FAS practice group said: “We know there are many opportunities for Jeff and his team to provide their significant experience in the valuation and damages area. This is a good fit for both of us and we are very excited to have them join our team.”

The Austin office is located at 15918 W Courtyard Drive, Suite 250A, Austin, TX 78730

Resolution Economics is a portfolio company of Levine Leichtman Capital Partners (LLCP).

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Austin, TX

2 confirmed cases of measles reported in Texas

Published

17 hours ago

January 28, 2025

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2 confirmed cases of measles reported in Texas

Measles in Texas

The Texas Department of State Health Services has confirmed the first cases of measles in the state since 2023.

AUSTIN, Texas – The Texas Department of State Health Services has confirmed the first cases of measles in the state since 2023. Health officials say those two reported cases are in Houston.

There have not been any confirmed cases in Central Texas, but Austin Public Health is asking residents to be proactive.

What is measles?

The backstory:

Measles is a highly contagious and, in some cases, deadly disease. Symptoms develop 7–14 days after infection, according to health officials.

“You could experience a very high fever, cough or runny nose, things like that, watery red eyes. A few days later, you’ll start to get a rash, and so that rash will start to look like white spots on the inside of your cheeks and then a rash that usually starts on your face and spreads down your body,” says Chief State Epidemiologist Varun Shetty.

Chief state epidemiologist Varun Shetty says measles is an airborne disease.

“Measles spreads through coughs and sneezes. It can stay in a room for up to two hours. Someone could get measles just simply by being in the room where someone who is sick had it. If you are not protected with the vaccine,” says Shetty.

Why you should care:

This month, the Houston Health Department identified two cases of measles associated with international travel.

Health officials said to prevent the spread of the disease, getting vaccinated is recommended.

“Typically, the vaccine that you receive from your doctor is called the MMR vaccine. It stands for measles, mumps, and rubella. It’s a two-dose vaccine. Two doses of this vaccine are highly effective at protecting against measles. In fact, it prevents 97% of cases of measles,” says Shetty.

Shetty says if you are not vaccinated, and you are exposed to the disease, take the proper precautions to protect yourself and the public.

“The most important thing is to isolate yourself, stay away from other people so you can reduce the risk of spreading it to others. Then we would recommend you to call your doctor on the phone ahead of time and let them know that you’re concerned about that so that you can arrange a safe way to get evaluated and get tested and then follow those doctor’s instructions,” says Shetty.

Health officials say those most at risk are pregnant women, children and those with weak immune systems.

The Source: Information from interviews conducted by FOX 7 Austin’s Tan Radford

HealthAustin

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Austin, TX

How many immigrants have been arrested? See which Texas cities had ICE raids this weekend

Published

1 day ago

January 27, 2025

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How many immigrants have been arrested? See which Texas cities had ICE raids this weekend

Within a week of Donald Trump’s second term as president, several raids were conducted by ICE agents throughout Texas as well as the rest of the U.S. Upon entering office last Monday, Trump delivered on a campaign promise and issued an executive order to “protect the American people against invasion.” His administration has said the aggressive deportation efforts would prioritize “violent offenders.”

The Drug Enforcement Agency, the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives assisted with the Texas operations.

An ICE spokesperson confirmed the raids in North Texas in an emailed statement to Texas Public Radio:

“U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement along with our federal law enforcement partners began conducting enhanced targeted operations today in North Texas and the state of Oklahoma to enforce U.S. immigration law and preserve public safety and national security by keeping potentially dangerous criminal aliens out of our communities.“

How many undocumented immigrants have been arrested?

Beginning Thursday, Jan. 23, ICE has reported single-day U.S. statistics for the number of individuals arrested and charged with a crime as well as those detained.

Jan. 23: 538 arrests, 373 detainers lodged
Jan. 24: 593 arrests, 449 detainers lodged
Jan. 25: 286 arrests, 421 detainers lodged
Jan. 26: 956 arrests, 554 detainers lodged

Similar operations occurred in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Jersey and New York, according to various news reports.

It is unclear how many of these arrests and detainments occurred in Texas. However, several cities across the Lone Star State saw these “enhanced targeted operations” on Sunday.

Where did the ICE raids happen in Texas?

Officials have yet to confirm how many undocumented immigrants were apprehended in Texas Sunday. However, local news outlets suggest the following areas have been subjected to the raids: