The <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/austin" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Austin</a>, Texas, Police Department asked residents of the growing city to refrain from calling 911 and instead dial 311 — a non-emergency number — if they are robbed at a bank or an ATM. 
The police department, which has been facing staffing shortages, posted a graphic to X last week asking Austin residents to “call 311 or make an online report” if they were victims of a robbery on their way back from a bank or ATM, The New York Post <a href="https://nypost.com/2023/09/05/austin-police-ask-robbery-victims-not-to-call-911-amid-staffing-shortage-crime-crisis/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. Austin has seen a 77% increase in auto thefts, a 30% increase in murders, and an 18% increase in aggravated assaults since 2020 as the police department struggles to hire the number of officers it needs to protect its streets.    
“Even if you are cautious &amp; follow all the safety advice, you may still become the unfortunate victim of a robbery,” the Austin Police Department posted on X. “Do you know what your next steps should be? Make a police report &amp; provide as much information as possible so we can recover your property quickly and safely.”
The graphic suggested &#8220;mention[ing] in your report that you were coming from a bank when the crime was committed&#8221; and &#8220;includ[ing] the time and date of your money withdrawal.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Even if you are cautious &amp; follow all the safety advice, you may still become the unfortunate victim of a robbery. Do you know what your next steps should be? Make a police report &amp; provide as much information as possible so we can recover your property quickly and safely. <a href="https://t.co/79Cv0RI099">pic.twitter.com/79Cv0RI099</a>
&mdash; Austin Police Department (@Austin_Police) <a href="https://twitter.com/Austin_Police/status/1697697243006923207?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 1, 2023</a></blockquote>
The city’s police chief, Joseph Chacon, resigned last month after serving two years as the department’s head, <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12483149/Austin-crime-surge-defund-police.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">saying</a> it was the “right time” to retire. Chacon&#8217;s resignation came as the department’s police union and some Austin residents laid into city leaders for “miserable conditions” for officers and for defunding the department following the George Floyd riots in 2020. 
Austin’s city council slashed the police budget by $150 million after the spread of the “defund the police” rhetoric in the summer of 2020. The police cut has led to a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/union-says-austin-police-dept-battling-crime-spike-hundreds-of-officers-short-after-defund-the-police" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shortage of officers</a>, according to the Austin Police Association, which said that the Austin Police Department currently stands at around 1,475 officers, and the growing city needs closer to 2,000 in order to be able to protect the city. 
The city council’s decision to cut police funding also led to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/you-are-all-cowards-mother-whose-son-was-killed-in-mass-shooting-blasts-austin-for-defunding-police" target="_blank" rel="noopener">outrage</a> from the mother of a man who was killed in a mass shooting in the city. Julia Kantor, whose son Douglas, 25, was killed in June 2021, wrote an email to the council only days before her son’s alleged murderer went on trial last week, calling councilmembers “cowards” for going along with the police cut. 
“Aug 28th in Austin TX there will be jury selection for the murder of my son Douglas Kantor and the attack on 14 others for the June 12th 2021 mass shooting on 6th street,” she wrote. “I hope you will follow this [trial] as your duty to your citizens. It was you, the city council and others who defunded the police and welcomed these evil people with no regard for life to run and ruin your city.”
<a href="https://onelink.to/dwapp">CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILY WIRE APP</a>
Earlier this year, another Texas city <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dallas-police-will-force-residents-to-report-some-offenses-online-instead-of-calling-911" target="_blank" rel="noopener">required</a> residents to fill out some police reports online instead of calling 911 to free officers to respond to more serious crimes. The new reporting requirements for the Dallas Police Department went into effect in July as the police department has faced an increase in high-priority calls and staffing shortages.

<script async src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script>
<script async src="https://www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><div data-widget-host="revcontent" data-pub-id="165152" data-widget-id="290588"></div><script src="https://delivery.revcontent.com/165152/290588/widget.js"></script>

Austin Police Ask Residents To Call Non-Emergency Number If They’re Robbed At Bank, ATM

CONTINUE READING

Taxpayer-Funded Exorcisms? The Medicaid Debate Just Got Wild

WATCH: Footage Shows Engine Fly Off UPS Plane Before Crash Killed 15

Violent Teen Takeover Erupts Inside Chipotle As Officials Promise Parents Won’t Escape Blame

Secret Service Agent, Chinese Security Get Into Standoff During Trump Visit

Drinking Water For Thousands Threatened After Disturbing Discovery Underwater

Police ID Man Hit By Frontier Jet, Reveal Horrifying Final Moments

News

Austin

Crime

Police

Texas

U.S.

A video goes viral showing a baby being refused his mother by two gay "dads". This is just the tip of the iceberg, which is why we will have an important discussion today about surrogacy. 

Hour 1

The Matt Walsh Show

Ep. 1765 - This Video Is One Of The Worst Things I've Seen In A Long Time 

The Strait of Hormuz officially opens for business (kind of), the Pope makes “shocking” comments on immigration, and President Trump promises UFO disclosure at TPUSA. 


The Michael Knowles Show

Ep. 1956 -  Pope Leo's "SHOCKING" Immigration Comments EXPLAINED

A false miscreed has corrupted our leadership class.


The Andrew Klavan Show

Ep. 1275 - Dumb, Dumber and Progressive

President Trump announces a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, a murder-suicide involving former Democratic Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax shakes Virginia, and France and Britain hold a conference to secure the Strait of Hormuz – after the Iranian conflict ends. Get the facts first with Morning Wire.

- - -

Ep. 2738

- - -

Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3

- - -

Today's Sponsors:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text 'WIRE' to 83848 to learn more.

Pocket Hose - Text MORNING to 64000 to get a FREE pocket pivot and their 10-pattern sprayer with the purchase of ANY size Copper Head hose. Message and data rates may apply.

Morning Wire

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26 [Member Exclusive]

A ceasefire goes into effect between Israel and Lebanon, a tragic murder-suicide rocks Virginia, and Dairy Queen deploys AI in the drive-thru. Get the facts first with Evening Wire.
- - -
Ep. 2737
- - -
Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3 
- - -
Today’s Sponsor:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text “WIRE” to 83848 to learn more.


Evening Wire: Lebanon Ceasefire Begins & Murder-Suicide Rocks VA | 4.16.26

The Pendragon Cycle

Menu

— News —

Austin Police Ask Residents To Call Non-Emergency Number If They’re Robbed At Bank, ATM