Police: Burglars targeting high-end lofts

A resident of the downtown high-rise the Bowie was at work one afternoon last week when she received an unsettling phone call: All four units on her floor had been broken into, apartment managers said. 

She rushed home to survey the damage. Her door looked like it had been wrenched open with a crowbar, she said. Her whole closet had been rummaged through, and her jewelry was strewn across the floor. It took her a while to determine what had been stolen — purses, shoes and jewelry. All her electronics were still there, and, surprisingly, the cash that she had left on her counter remained untouched.

"It definitely seemed like they knew what they were looking for," said the woman, who asked not to be named for fear of legal retribution from the building's management.

The woman is one of several people whose downtown or South Austin apartments have been burglarized since July. Austin police, who are still investigating who is breaking in and how, said one or more people have been targeting high-end apartments in the area since July.

"I haven't seen anything like this in the two years I've worked here," said Sgt. Matthew Sanders, who is with the Austin police burglary unit.

Whoever is responsible has targeted at least four places — the Bowie and three other apartment buildings that police did not name but said were on South Congress Avenue, Lamar Boulevard and Barton Springs Road. Multiple units are often burglarized at once, and stolen items usually include high-end jewelry and other accessories, police said.

"There will be four to six (units burglarized) in a time period, and then they'll stop," Sanders said. "Then, three weeks later, we'll see it again."

Curiously, he said, the burglaries appear to be targeting buildings with steel doors.

"We're not 100% sure how entries are being made," Sanders said. "They're metal doors that open outward, so somebody would have to have some form of tool in order to pop that door. ... Somebody walking around with a huge crowbar should be obvious. You would think that we would get calls about that — 'a guy is walking down my hallway with a huge crowbar' — but we're not getting those calls."

Sanders did not say how many people have been affected by the crimes.

Police officers are still reviewing video footage and trying to find suspects, Sanders said.

Preventing crimes like this can be difficult, but there are some things residents can do to aid police in their investigations, Sanders said. Residents should record the serial numbers on their electronics and guns and should take photos of their high-end jewelry. Indoor security cameras also are hugely helpful, he said.

"The quality of camera systems for residents are a lot better than they used to be," Sanders said. "An internal camera that faces the front door of your apartment would be a really great investment."

Anyone who has information about these crimes can call the Austin police burglary tip line at 512-974-6941.