Texas jewelry store owner hit by string of break-ins amid police shortage
Daniel Schweiterman, owner of Regard Jewelry story in Austin, Texas, discusses the string of break-ins into his business and the police shortage leading to a rampant crime crisis in the city.
Daniel Schweiterman, owner of Regard Jewelry store in Austin, Texas said Thursday his business was targeted by the same criminals multiple times as the city's crime crisis escalates.
"We've called [the Austin Police Department] for ten days straight. It was a 311 call," he told "Fox & Friends First."
"The 311 is a customer service-based system, and you wait for the police to call you back."
Schweiterman went on to say he has struggled to get a police report during the 10 days since he made his initial call to the 311 number.
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He also said the number was created in an attempt to offset intense call volumes as police shortages leave the city in disarray.
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"311 is not working. A jewelry store should not take ten days to get a police report," he said. The Austin Police Department issued a statement urging citizens to use the customer service-based number for "non-emergency situations" instead of 911.
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In light of the policy, Schweiterman added that the only way his business could get a police report soon is by calling 911 and reporting a violent crime.
"This is for sure not working. You take away the police force and then ask us all not to have weapons or anything in our stores to protect ourselves. The crime rate is going to go up."
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Host Todd Piro noted the suspect in the crime dropped a receipt featuring the tools he used during the robbery, as well as his name.