AUSTIN, Texas — Over a dozen suspects were arrested as part of a series of shoplifting crackdowns conducted by Austin Police in North Austin earlier this month.
In the week following December 15, 2024, the North Metro Tactical Response Unit of the Austin Police Department (APD) worked with local retailers and the APD North Criminal Investigations Division to conduct blitz operations targeting theft in various areas. The operations resulted in the recovery of nearly $3,500 worth of stolen merchandise and three stolen vehicles.
The operations took place at several locations, including The Miller and Capital Plaza shopping centers, The Domain, Arbor Walk, and Lakeline Mall. Officers also utilized license plate readers to track stolen vehicles, including one incident involving a juvenile suspect.
Here’s a breakdown of the three operations:
Monday, December 16, 2024 – Mueller/Capital Plaza Shopping Centers
Total Recovery: $582
Wednesday, December 18, 2024 – Domain/Arbor Walk/Gateway/Arboretum
Total Recovery: $1,733.38 and 3 stolen vehicles
Friday, December 20, 2024 – Lakeline Mall Area
Total Recovery: $1,173.74
A total of 19 suspects were arrested or cited across the three operations. Below is a list of individuals arrested or cited:
Patrick Edwards, 24, charged with state jail felony theft
Ahmad Charaf Eddine, issued a summons for theft Class B misdemeanor
Loyd Powell, 58, charged with state jail felony theft
Rene Soto, 50, charged with state jail felony theft and 7 active theft arrest warrants
Benjamin Boutin, 34, charged with state jail felony theft
Juvenile, arrested on an outstanding warrant
Benjamin Boutin, 45, arrested for an active warrant for a narcotics offense
Juvenile, charged with unlawful use of a motor vehicle and engaging in organized criminal activity
Araceli Soto, 17, charged with engaging in organized criminal activity
Kevin Swallow, 54, charged with state jail felony theft
Juan Perez, 25, charged with state jail felony theft
Karla Chandler-Hernandez, 51, charged with state jail felony theft and an outstanding warrant for failure to pay child support
Michael Nichols, 59, charged with state jail felony theft
Maria Sanchez De La Cruz, 43, issued a citation for theft Class C
Miriam Limon-Sanchez, 37, issued a citation for theft Class C and charged with POCS PG 1 gram (state jail felony)
Donald Sanders, 49, arrested for Theft Class A and suspected in several unsolved theft cases across the Austin area.
The crackdown operations are part of the ongoing effort by the Austin Police Department to tackle organized retail crime and curb theft-related incidents in the city.