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APD seeks suspect after theft of child’s medical supplies in Mueller

Edited by Eric Cheung Tue, Jun 17, 2025 • 08:08 AM

What Happened

Austin police are investigating a porch theft that deprived a local family of vital medical supplies for their three-and-a-half-year-old child in the Mueller neighborhood. The incident occurred on June 15 at about 1:15 p.m. on the 2500 block of Zach Scott Street; the calendar year for the incident is unconfirmed.

Home security video shows a young Hispanic man taking two packages roughly 45 minutes after they were delivered, according to the family. The suspect wore a yellow Chicago Bulls hat, a white shirt, black basketball shorts, and pink bracelets. He also appeared to have distinctive tattoos: scripture on the inner left wrist and forearm and another in the right arm’s elbow ditch.

The Austin Police Department said it is actively investigating. Tips may be submitted anonymously to the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program at austincrimestoppers.org or by calling 512-472-8477. A reward of up to $1,000 is offered for information leading to an arrest.

Impact on the Family

Renee, who asked that her last name be withheld to protect her family’s privacy, said the stolen boxes held feeding bags, formula, and syringes her son relies on every day because of a condition that affects his mobility and digestion.

"There was a sense of violation, a level of frustration, because this is not just a nuisance for us. How am I going to feed my kid in 48 hours without the necessary supplies?" she said.

She added that the person who took the packages likely didn’t know what was inside. "This person has no idea. My guess is that they just thought they were stealing average Joe boxes off of someone's front porch. In our case, these are actually vital for our kid to have food in him and to live his life," Renee said.

Neighbors had planned to collect the delivery while the family was out, but the theft happened before anyone could retrieve it, she said. The family’s medical supplier ultimately replaced the stolen items at no charge, a relief Renee called meaningful but not guaranteed for everyone. "I feel for those families and realize that we're in a privileged position to have the time to even address this or to have the extra cash to pay to try to get what we need covered until we can get a replacement," she said.

Renee said she holds compassion for the person who took the packages. 'I would like to meet them and just be like, can I hear your story? What led you to these choices that you are currently making?' she said. "As a follower of Jesus, I forgive them, that's a given, but I am curious as to what led them to that," she reflected.

A Wider Pattern in Austin

The theft comes amid a broader rise in package thefts across Austin and Texas. According to consolidated FBI and Texas Department of Public Safety data and Austin Police Department summaries and local reporting, Texas recorded more than 6,000 package-theft cases in 2023, and Austin saw roughly a 20% year-over-year increase in porch thefts. Those trends have put neighborhoods on alert, particularly dense, delivery-dependent areas.

Mueller, a planned community with about 6,000 residents, has seen property crime and package thefts increase in recent years, according to the U.S. Census Bureau population profile and Austin Police Department summaries and local reporting. Residents say the quick turnaround between delivery and theft — in this case, about 45 minutes — reflects an opportunistic pattern that can be hard to counter without better coordination among neighbors, delivery services, and law enforcement.

Why Medical Supply Thefts Hit Hard

Advocacy groups say that when stolen packages contain medical supplies, the harm can go beyond property loss. The National Alliance on Mental Illness and local special-needs advocates note that thefts disrupting care routines can create immediate health risks and elevate caregiver stress, particularly for families navigating complex feeding schedules and mobility challenges. Those added pressures can be acute when families lack the money or time to quickly replace items or access emergency supplies.

Renee’s experience illustrates that reality: without rapid replacements, her family would have faced a critical gap in care within two days. She said her supplier’s willingness to rush replacement items — and the support of neighbors — eased the immediate crisis but also highlighted how quickly routine deliveries can become lifelines.

How Neighbors Can Reduce Risk

Crime-prevention guidance from local program reports and law enforcement suggests a layered approach to deterring porch thefts:

Request signature-required delivery or schedule narrow delivery windows when someone is home.
Use secure pickup options such as carrier lockers or hold-for-pickup services; consider package lockers offered in some apartment and neighborhood settings.
Provide delivery instructions to place packages out of sight or with a trusted neighbor; coordinate porch pickups through neighborhood groups.
Install doorbell cameras and motion lighting, which can deter opportunistic thefts and aid investigations.
Work with medical suppliers and pharmacies to flag critical shipments for alternate delivery arrangements or expedited replacements if items go missing.

Residents are encouraged to report suspicious activity promptly. According to Austin Police Department outreach and local program reports, neighborhood watch networks and police-led workshops — combined with delivery-management tactics — have helped reduce thefts in several Austin communities.

For those affected by property crime, local community organizations in Austin offer support, including counseling, help documenting losses, and practical assistance replacing essential items, according to program summaries from community groups. Families can also talk with suppliers and insurers about emergency replacements and reimbursement options.

The Investigation and What’s Next

APD asks anyone who recognizes the suspect description — a young Hispanic man in a yellow Chicago Bulls hat, white shirt, black basketball shorts, and pink bracelets, with scripture tattoos on the inner left wrist/forearm and another in the right elbow area — to contact investigators. Tips can be submitted anonymously through the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program at austincrimestoppers.org or by calling 512-472-8477. A reward of up to $1,000 is available for information leading to an arrest.

As police pursue leads, neighbors in Mueller say they are doubling down on watchfulness and delivery coordination. The incident underscores a broader challenge for a growing city: keeping front porches — and the essentials families depend on — safe, even when a package’s importance isn’t obvious to anyone passing by.

This content has been submitted by authors outside of this publisher and is not its editorial product. It could contain opinions, facts, and points of view that have not been reviewed or accepted by the publisher. The content may have been created, in whole or in part, using artificial intelligence tools. Original Source →