The Austin Police Department (APD) is alerting residents and visitors to an increase in cell phone thefts linked to pickpocketing in the downtown area, particularly during periods of heavy crowd activity.

To raise awareness, APD has placed temporary signs at high-density pedestrian locations. These signs will be moved frequently to maximize visibility and serve as reminders for individuals to secure their valuables, such as cell phones, in less accessible places.

Police data indicates that most incidents occur between 10 p.m. and 3 a.m., with activity peaking between midnight and 1 a.m. on weekends. Over the past three years (2023, 2024, and 2025 to date), more than half of reported pickpocketing cases have taken place during this one-hour window, especially on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

To help reduce the risk of theft, APD advises community members to:

• Keep phones, wallets, and valuables in front pants pockets when possible.
• Avoid storing items in cross-body purses.
• Use purse latches or locks designed for festivals to deter pickpockets.
• Keep screen lock passwords separate from cloud or settings passwords.
• Store credit cards and identification separately from phone cases at crowded events.

APD encourages anyone who becomes a victim of pickpocketing to file a report promptly. Reports can be made by calling 3-1-1 or submitting an online report at http://www.ireportaustin.com.