Austin police ask people to call the non-emergency number instead of 911 if they get robbed
The police department had to make this request because there are not enough officers to fight rising crime.
The Austin Police Department posted on X (formerly Twitter) asking people to call 311 — instead of 911 — if they are robbed around ATMs.
311 is a number that is usually used to make non-emergency calls.
The request comes at a time when local police are facing a serious crisis: rising crime and a shortage of officers. Austin has experienced a 77% increase in car thefts, a 30% increase in murders and an 18% increase in aggravated assaults (compared to 2020).
911 calls on hold and police chief's resignation
President of the Austin Police Association, Thomas Villarreal, warned in August that situation was getting worse. Defunding of the police has been problematic, since there are not enough officers to answer emergency calls:
Former Austin Police Chief Joseph Chacon was another officer who in August — amid the crime crisis and staffing shortages — decided to step down.
Crime unleashed
In early 2023, Austin was ranked 15th for most homicides, according to a WalletHub study reviewed by Daily Mail.
The media outlet pointed out how crime has been out of control ever since the police lost funding after the Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests.