Travis Heights sees spike in crime

Residents of the South Austin neighborhood of Travis Heights say they’ve seen their fair share of burglaries lately.

In the last two months, home and car break-ins have spiked in the Travis Heights neighborhood.

• Related: Watchful neighbors steer burglars away

And since July, there have been at least 16 home burglaries in the neighborhood bounded by bounded by Riverside Drive, Congress Avenue, Oltorf and Interstate 35.

In the prior three months there were fewer than 10.

A 30-year Travis Heights resident who didn't want to give her name for fear of being targeted by thieves told KXAN all of her neighbors are on edge.

"When you hear something going on next door, you're alerted, you're looking. So it's neighbors helping neighbors," she said.

The break-ins are unwelcome news to the 27 volunteers of the Travis Heights Neighborhood Patrol.

Since July 11, they've been patrolling in marked cars looking for troublemakers.

Austin Police Commander Ernest Pedraza says they continue to be an effective crime fighting tool.

"The impact that the citizens and the police working together is great because the citizens observe and they call 9-1-1 and the officers respond as quickly as possible."

Police arrested two suspects for a home burglary on Travis Heights Boulevard on Sept. 12.

Since that date only one home break-in has been reported to police.

Despite the recent spike, APD says overall crime in Travis Heights is down 21 percent year-to-year.

Neighbors credit increased vigilance.

"If one person knocks on the same six doors, people put it on a list serve,” said Lee Case of the South River City Citizens Neighborhood Association. “They are really, really pushing people to call 3-1-1 about anything at all," he said.

With Interstate 35 running through the eastern portion of Travis Heights, Case speculates thieves who target his neighborhood have a convenient escape route.

"There's been some people reported that their doors were kicked in - one when someone was home," Case said.

Even so, Ruth says it's not the burglars who would cause her to eventually flee Travis Heights.

"The reason I'd want to leave is because of higher property taxes, maybe this is hidden property taxes that I'm living with, but no, this is my home. This is where I live.”