By Anita Miller
Kyle Police say a team of four at work in Kyle early on Oct. 6 burglarized numerous vehicles and stole two as they targeted 10 streets in or near the Meadows of Kyle neighborhood.
Three juveniles and 18-year-old Anderson Cortez were taken into custody and charged with burglary of a vehicle and engaging in organized criminal activity, a charge that is added with four or more people are connected to the same crime.
Police said the juveniles, whose names were not released, were 13, 14, and 16 years old. Cortez, a resident of Austin, was assessed a bond totaling $16,000. He was also placed on an ICE detainer, according to Hays County Jail records.
Police responded to Purple Martin Avenue after someone called to report people rummaging through one of their vehicles, later to learn they had illegally entered both a 2003 Pontiac and a 2017 Chevy Malibu, both of which had been left unlocked.
“The items stolen from these two vehicles include sunglasses, phone chargesr, knives, a cell phone, a wallet and an iPod,” Kyle Police Chief Jeff Barnett said.
He added that more charges may be forthcoming as the investigation continues. In addition to Purple Martin Avenue, he listed Masonwood Drive, Caraway, Brandi Circle, Hogan, Primrose, Cowboy Cove, Phillips, Dandelion and Fender.
“In addition to investigating other car burglaries, we are actively looking for two stolen vehicles,” he said, one a black 2003 Chevy Tahoe with a three-inch lift kit, chrome wheels a temporary tag and an U.S. Marine Corps emblem on the back and the other, a 2010 maroon Ford Edge. One of those was unlocked, and the burglars got into the second vehicle after finding the keys in the first.
The incidents serve as a reminder to residents to be sure to lock vehicles and to remove valuables from them, Barnett said. He also discouraged leaving keys to one vehicle inside another.
Anyone with any information is urged to contact Kyle police at their non-emergency number, 512-268-3232.
Burglary of a vehicle is a Class A Misdemeanor. Engaging in organized criminal activity is a state jail felony.
