Kirk Preston Watson - Mayor of Austin, Texas | Twitter
Kirk Preston Watson - Mayor of Austin, Texas | Twitter
On Monday, October 21, 2024, a robbery took place at approximately 4:45 p.m. in the parking lot located at 4400 N Lamar Blvd. A victim reported to the authorities that she and her family member were robbed of a high-end piece of jewelry. The victim had arranged to sell the item on Facebook Marketplace and met with an interested buyer, later identified as Caleb Thompsen.
Upon arriving at the meeting point, Thompsen flagged down the victim. As she held the jewelry, Thompsen swiftly snatched it from her hand. During this act, he made an aggressive movement as if he would strike if she attempted to reclaim her property. Given Thompsen's height advantage over the female victim, she feared for her safety and refrained from trying to retrieve the stolen item.
The Austin Police Department (APD) Robbery Unit conducted a thorough investigation and confirmed Thompsen's identity as the suspect. Subsequently, an arrest warrant was issued for robbery, classified as a second-degree felony. The Violent Crimes Task Force Unit successfully apprehended Thompsen and booked him into Travis County Jail.
The APD Robbery Unit emphasized caution when conducting online sales transactions. Despite taking several recommended precautions—such as bringing another person along and meeting in a public area during daylight—the victim still fell prey to this crime.
Authorities urge anyone with information regarding this incident to contact APD's Robbery unit at 512-974-5092 or submit tips anonymously through Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program via their website or by calling 512-472-8477. A reward of up to $1,000 is offered for information leading to an arrest.
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