After Austin switched off its Flock license plate cameras in June 2025, car theft rose 24% when measured against trends in comparable cities. Austin's auto theft came in above expectations every month for the following year. About 776 more stolen cars than there otherwise would be.

AUSTIN MAN was released from jail on a plea deal from DA Jose Garza's office. Days later, he broke into a South Austin home and walked into the bedroom where the homeowner was sleeping. The homeowner shot him dead. Dmario Jones, 24, was already well known to prosecutors. In May, he was hit with three felonies: organized criminal activity, felony theft, and felony criminal mischief for thousands of dollars in damage. Garza's office threw out the organized crime charge. Then it dropped the criminal mischief charge. On the theft, prosecutors let him plead guilty and gave him a misdemeanor-level sentence. He was back on the street within days. One week after the plea, a homeowner woke up to a burglar in their bedroom. Prosecutors had three felonies and a chance to keep him off the street. They let him go, and a homeowner had to stop him instead.

AUSTIN MAN charged with murdering a man over a diamond watch just walked out of jail after a judge cut his bond. The victim posted photos of cash and a diamond Cartier watch online. Police say six people spent two weeks planning to take them. In Nov 2024, they blasted into his apartment, assaulted a woman, pointed a gun at a child, and shot the victim dead. Judaren Forbes, 22, is indicted for murder. He posted bond last week. Another judge then set bond at $1 on his open gun cases. When the victim was killed, Forbes was already out on bond in four cases. Highlights: 2022: Arrested carrying a gun. January 2023: Video shows him running into the street at a house party and firing an AR at a passing car. Prosecutors knocked the felony down to a misdemeanor. 60 days in jail. March 2023: Arrested for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. DA Jose Garza's office declined to file it. Christmas Eve 2023: Arrested with another Glock. Out the next day. September 2024: He fled a trooper from a street takeover, crashed into another driver, hurled his Glock off an I-35 overpass, and jumped after it. Hours later he swore to police his car had been stolen. Ten weeks later, a man was killed. Five of the six home invasion suspects were already out on violent cases. The murder victim’s mother said they "should have never been free on bond." Now Forbes is back on the street.