Mystery men linked to 25 smash-and-grabs

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Austin police need the public's help recognizing two men who have been hard at work stealing cash registers from numerous businesses after hours.

Senior Police Officer Evonne McGuire said the bandit duo has hit more than 25 places in the last month and a half, mostly restaurants, scattered across Austin. They often work together, but in at least one case one of the suspects was alone. Police say in all of the cases, the men smash through the front doors and make a bee line to the money.

Surveillance video from a Little Caesar's shows one of the men in and out of the pizza shop in about a minute. He jumps over the counter, sets computer monitors aside and unplugs three drawers of cash lying on the counter. The hooded man stacks up the three cash drawers, jumps back over the counter and hauls them out.

Police also have surveillance video of two men inside four other businesses, including a Uhaul shop. A picture shows them pulling up to Uhaul in an older model four-door black car that has a thin white stripe down the side. The older sedan has dark tinted windows (see pictures).

Anyone with information is urged to call Austin police at 512-974-6941. Anonymous tips can also be called in to Crimestoppers at 512-472-TIPS or text "Tip 103" plus the message to CRIMES.