The Daily Blotter 03/18/10

(KXAN) - Elderly woman robbed in a mall

An 80-year-old woman was robbed at Highland Mall, according to Austin police.

The victim was entering the Macy's Department store just before 10 a.m. on Monday when police said, Kimani Butler, 32, allegedly grabbed her purse, causing the victim to fall to the ground. One of the victim's co-workers saw it happen and chased Butler into the parking lot and saw the suspect drop a black backpack.

About two hours later, police saw Butler sitting out front of a closed business at East 12th and Chicon street. Police said Butler had several IDs and credit cards of various names, including the woman who was robbed at Highland Mall earlier in the day. Kimani is charged with aggravated robbery, a first-degree felony.

Attempted robber hits a man with his car

An illegal immigrant - who told police he was looking for a prostitute at the time of his arrest - is now charged with aggravated assault with a motor vehicle after police said he intentionally hit a man with his car.

Police said Jose Chaparro, 20, was arrested Wednesday at about 2:30 a.m. They were called to 5600 block of Manchaca Road after hearing that two cars were speeding as they were leaving a neighborhood. A neighbor told police he saw Chaparro looking into homes with a flashlight and tried to detain him because there had been several burglaries in the area.

Police said, in an effort to leave, Chaparro hit the victim and injured him. Police pulled Chaparro over a short time later and arrested him.

Possible smash-and-grab criminals caught

Three men have been charged with engaging in organized criminal activity after Austin police said they were caught burglarizing cars and smashing out of more that a dozen car windows.

Luis Garcia, 23, Luis Alcantar, 19, and Fernando Cintron, 20, were arrested after one Wednesday morning at 1300 South Pleasant Valley. An apartment complex resident called police to report three men dressed in dark clothing smashing out at least three car windows.

When police showed up, they said the three were in the parking lot but took off running. A K9 unit was called out and the men were found hiding in a storage closet. Police said there were eight other cars in three nearby apartment complexes that also had smashed windows.

Landlord accused of stealing money from residents

Austin Police said an apartment-complex manager had been stealing thousands of dollars from Spring Valley Apartments complex residents and property owners.

The apartments are at 2302 E. William Cannon Blvd. Police said Brenda Jimenez, 52, was hired as the property manager in July 2009. In October 2009, the vice president that oversees the company found a discrepancy in the amount of cash being deposited and the amount of rent that was actually being charged to residents.

Jimenez was fired in November for mishandling company funds. An audit was done and revealed several tenants were overcharged. Jimenez had allegedly crossed out the company's name and written in her own, according to police. The total missing funds came to $12,596 and the amount in money orders written to Jimenez was $1,738.