Gaming-room heist sends three to jail

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Three people pretend to gamble in an illegal gaming room, just to rob the place.

In the 900 block of Braker Lane in North Austin, an illegal business with mirrored doors lets people gamble. Monday was a "normal" day for the storefront, until three individuals knocked on the door. Tiburcio Gonzalez-Lopez, Rubin Gutierrez and Juanita Juarez walked inside and started gambling for a short time. On their way out, the trouble started.

"When they were leaving, two of them pulled guns and took the money from the woman who was working the counter," said Detective Dan Arizpe with the Austin Police Department's robbery unit.

This crime would normally go unnoticed by the police, as many are scared to report it.

"I think people are afraid that they might get in trouble for gambling," said Arizpe.

Other businesses located in the shopping center had no idea what happened behind the closed doors.

"There was nothing going on there from what I could see," said Jason Hughes, who works at a store just a few doors down from the operation. "A bunch of curtains closed and cars going in there. People knocking, people just had to knock pretty much."

Police are concerned about numerous other robberies in recent months. The department is seeing more serious cases were guns and other weapons are used.

Austin police encourage anyone who is the victim of a armed robbery to always report the crime.