NW Austin residents see burglary spike

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Residents in Northwest Austin are telling each other to lock their doors after a recent string of burglaries.

The crime trend has picked up in the past few weeks in the Milwood neighborhood which sits near the intersection of Parmer and MoPac, and residents have taken notice on a neighborhood association e-mail list.

"I think all neighborhoods have cars get broken into,' said Ryan Lanier. "But the house thing has been sort of making me feel like I don't live in Mayberry anymore."

Lanier is a mother and the wife of the Milwood Neighborhood Homeowner's Association President. Her neighbors have reported burglars busting in their front doors and back windows during the day, while they are gone to work, taking electronics and jewelry.

The burglars also have a thirst for Dr. Pepper. One resident reported a twelve pack missing from his fridge. Austin police said twelve burglaries have occured in the neighborhood of roughly 1,140 households in the past seven weeks.

Austin police plan on attending their meeting next week to talk about improving the neighborhood watch program.

"Everytime we see a pattern like this, the break that ends it is a neighbor calling 911," said Austin Police Detective Jeff Gabler.

One person called police with a license plate number, but Gabler said it traced back to a stolen car.

Meanwhile, Travis County sheriff's deputies are also on the lookout after a burglary in the Anderson Mill subdivision. 

Deputies said a suspect walked into a home with an open garage and rummaged through a purse inside a car.

The suspects got away in an older model maroon Grand Am after the home owner noticed the man in the car.