AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Police Department on Thursday revealed pickpocketing crime in Austin has been reduced by half when comparing June 2025 to June 2024.
At a Downtown Austin Alliance meeting, APD said a part of the reason why the stat went down was because of investigative work conducted by the Downtown Area Rapid Response Team.
“They were able to use place, work, and network investigations and really hone in on the players in a ring of pocket picking, and they made several arrests from a guy out of Dallas and his crews,” APD said in the meeting.
APD noted “hot” areas when it comes to pickpocketing were Republic Square Park, East Fifth to East Eighth Street, and the Brazos and Red River area during peak times on the weekend.
Pickpocketing accounts for 60% percent of all reported crimes against property, according to APD.